Cybersecurity: Nigerian FinTech alerts consumers to online fraud, identity theft, offers measures against threats

*Remita payments services company cautions consumers against cyber threats that can lead to online fraud, identity theft, corporate account takeover and wallet hijacking, and recommends measures against falling victim to cybercriminals

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

As part of the leading digital payments company’s consumer education and sensitisation initiatives, Remita payments services has said the world of mobile-centric ultra-connectivity, in which consumers have access to almost everything they want via their smartphones, several opportunities exist.

The company, in a recent newsletter communication to customers, noted the downside to this huge opportunity is the constant cyber risk exposure through the Internet and all things connected.

ConsumerConnect reports Remita disclosed “cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated, and cybercriminals continue to develop insidious ways to breach networks.”

According to the leading digital payments firm in Nigeria, a breach can lead to online fraud, identity theft, corporate account takeover, wallet hijacking, etc.

It also stated: “Fraud committed against business and individual accounts is a growing threat, and cybercriminals can drain funds from a company’s bank account in minutes.

“While most organisations consider the direct risk of cyberthreats to their business through cyber assaults, known vulnerabilities, and security flaws, we acknowledge that customers constitute a bigger danger to the business and themselves.”

In several circumstances, it further said, a customer’s weak cybersecurity practices might lead to a compromise (stealing important customer information or access) through phishing, social engineering, access controls, passwords, etc.

Tips to protect yourself against cybercriminals

To avoid falling into the hands of cybercriminals, below are tips to guide you:

Beware of message contents – A message requiring you to take an unusual action or making unrealistic threats or demands for money is undoubtedly a scam.

Suspicious attachments – Look carefully before downloading unsolicited e-mail attachments.

Look out for weird filenames and extensions such as .exe, .dmg, .bat, .rar, etc.

Personal information – Never provide your username, password or other confidential information on Web sites you are not sure of their genuineness.

Fake URLs – beware of URLs that appear suspicious.

Before clicking on a link, please hover your mouse over it to reveal its address to ensure it matches the sender’s organisation’s address.

Poor spelling and grammar – A message with poor grammar or spelling will probably be a phishing scam.

Messages from legitimate institutions are usually reviewed and contain very little or no spelling/grammatical errors.

Pretexting – Avoid calls that ask/request you to send a code or any personal information urgently.

By remaining vigilant and following these highlighted best practices, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to such attacks.

“If you are suspicious of any e-mail and unsure what to do, do not download attachments or click links,” the company advised consumers financial products and services.

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