From enticing Facebook livestock deals that never materialize to Instagram and Facebook shops that vanish overnight, a growing number of Nigerians are becoming victims of fraudulent online vendors. These scammers expertly leverage the vast reach of social media and exploit the trust of unsuspecting individuals.
Promises of high-quality goods at heavily discounted rates, coupled with convincing product images and fabricated customer reviews, are often used to trick buyers into transferring money for items that are never delivered. In most cases, these deceptive vendors operate without verifiable contact addresses or phone numbers. Their communication often features poor English grammar, limited social media engagement, and locked comment sections, preventing negative feedback from being seen. Behind these glossy advertisements, digital predators thrive, often hijacking legitimate vendor pages or cloning websites in an unregulated online marketplace where retrieving lost funds is nearly impossible and justice remains elusive.
Unmasking the Modus Operandi of Online Fraudsters
This report highlights the distressing experiences of several Nigerians who have fallen prey to these cunning online fraudsters. Ahmed Idris, for example, was captivated by images of healthy goats on Facebook Marketplace. Believing he had found an excellent deal at N60,000 per animal, perfect for his aspiring livestock farm in Bwari, Abuja, he engaged with a seller claiming to be a fellow Edo man and a farmer in Kebbi State. The vendor, speaking convincingly and sharing videos, promised swift delivery. Trusting this "brother," Ahmed transferred an advance payment of N130,000 for five goats.
Days turned into weeks, but the goats never arrived. Calls went unanswered, and eventually, the seller disappeared, deleting his account and blocking Ahmed across all platforms. It was then that Ahmed realized he had been swindled. He recounted how the vendor strategically built trust by claiming shared heritage and offering a bulk discount when Ahmed's boss also expressed interest, leading to a total payment of N130,000. Ahmed later discovered the scammer routinely downloaded and repurposed adverts from genuine vendors, displaying them alongside their own to ensnare victims. His attempt to report the incident to the EFCC proved futile, as he was informed that mobile money accounts are difficult to trace.
Emmanuel Adam's experience echoed a similar pattern. He encountered a vendor on Instagram advertising foodstuffs at appealingly low prices. After selecting items totaling between N45,000 and N48,000, he was reassured by videos, pictures of the vendor with the goods, and seemingly positive comments – all of which were later revealed to be fake. Believing the perishable goods required upfront payment, he paid, expecting next-day delivery. When delivery failed and the vendor stopped responding, Adam visited the advertised address in Gwarimpa, Abuja, only to find no such business. His bank informed him the money had been withdrawn from the recipient's mobile money account, and legal action would be necessary, a process he deemed too stressful with no guarantee of recovery.
Anna Paul, through a WhatsApp group, found a vendor selling bags and a "bubu" gown. She ordered items worth N23,000, intending for them to be waybilled from Lagos to Abuja. When the vendor repeatedly delayed delivery, citing rain, Anna made an additional purchase of N17,000, bringing her total to N40,000. Ultimately, the vendor blocked her and removed her from the group, a tactic Anna later discovered had been used on others. Mrs. Uloma Amali, seeking fabrics for her daughter's wedding, paid an online vendor approximately N2 million, including delivery fees, only to be blocked and receive nothing, leading her to abandon online shopping entirely.
Expert Guidance: Safeguarding Against Online Scams
Financial expert David Elijah advises extreme caution when making online purchases. He stresses the importance of thoroughly vetting a vendor's page, profile, and social media presence. He suggests initiating conversations to test their patience, as scammers often rush transactions. "Give it time; and don’t rush because the item is fine and the pressure is high, or the item is too cheap," he cautioned. He also recommends consulting a trusted person for verification.
For victims, Elijah outlines steps for recovery: screenshot all conversations, copy the scammer's full name and account details, and note the transaction ID. An email should be sent to the victim's bank's e-fraud team and the scammer's bank, with a copy forwarded to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)'s fraud desk. This action helps to freeze the scammer's account. He also suggests reporting to the police and consulting a lawyer for a court order to obtain the scammer's information.
The CBN's advisory highlights the increasing sophistication of online crime. It identifies common fraud types: phishing scams (impersonating legitimate organizations to steal sensitive information), online shopping scams (fake websites, undelivered or subpar goods), identity theft (using stolen personal information for fraud), and investment scams (promising high returns with little risk). To combat these threats, the CBN urges consumers to shop only from trusted websites, look for secure payment gateways (HTTPS), and always read reviews and check website credibility.
The Digital Battleground: Policy and Prevention in E-commerce
Cybersecurity expert Alkassim Ibrahim advises scam victims to gather all evidence (payment receipts, conversations) but cautions against deactivating the scammer's account, which could hinder investigations. He recommends filing a complaint with local law enforcement and, for significant losses, contacting a cyber-crime investigator, though he acknowledges that a full recovery is not guaranteed.
Dr. Kazeem Durodoye, another cybersecurity expert, attributes the rise of online scams to increased digitization and the expansion of attack surfaces through advanced technology like cloud computing, virtualization, and AI. He emphasizes the critical need for increased cybersecurity awareness, better cyber hygiene practices (e.g., using passphrases and Multi-Factor Authentication), and greater responsibility from both public and private sector stakeholders.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission of Nigeria (FCCPC) is actively involved in regulating online vendors within the e-commerce sector to protect consumers. Through relevant sections of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018, the FCCPC enforces consumer rights, monitors the market, and provides a dispute resolution mechanism. Marvin Nadah, Deputy Director of Surveillance and Investigation at the FCCPC, confirmed the commission's proactive stance in safeguarding consumer interests and encourages consumers to utilize their dispute resolution services for complaints against online product manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, or service providers.