EFCC Uncovers Massive Scam Using Fake Airline Discounts, Reveals How Scammers Use ‘Promo’ Offers to Hijack Accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has uncovered a rising fraudulent scheme newly perfected by fraudsters to defraud Nigerians of their hard-earned money.

In a statement on Friday, EFCC said it considers it imperative to alert Nigerians to be wary of ubiquitous foreign airlines’ ticketing discount promos.

According to the anti-graft agency, the scheme involves the use of malware to gain unauthorized access to the account information of unsuspecting victims. Teasers like “ Promo”, “ Investment Windows” and other baits are usually employed to make their victims volunteer their account information through which fraudsters execute transactions on their behalf by sending their funds to accounts mainly in Fintech Institutions. Through this access, fraudsters then control and launder the funds through purchase of crypto currencies.

A case in point was a “Promo” offering the public 50% discount of ticket purchase in a leading foreign airline. Victims are led to pay a token of N500 into the account of the airline. The N500 payment which is now dressed as Charity payment is the leeway through which the fraudsters gain access to their victim’s personal information.

The victims were deceived into downloading the App of the airline to be eligible for the discount. However, after downloading the App and gaining unauthorized access to their personal details, funds were moved from the victim’s bank account into an account in a Microfinance Bank.

It is important to disclose that this fraud scheme is largely driven by an army of young Nigerians offering a paltry payment of between N1500 and N2000 to their victims to make them surrender a copy of their personal information details to them and sell the same information to some Fintech Institutions for about N5000. These canvassers called themselves “Account Suppliers” or “KYC Group”. Information available to the Commission revealed that the actors are up to 12000 all over the country seeking account donors that will surrender their NIN registration slip, BVN, passport photograph and other means of identification for a little fee. These information are then used to open accounts with Fintech companies for investment scam and sundry fraudulent schemes.

The Commission has made some arrests in this regard and recoveries of money lost to fraudulent Promo actors and Account Suppliers are ongoing. Members of the public are enjoined to be wary of these actors and on no account should any Nigerian agree to be an Account Donor for any purpose as this is a threat to national security.

The EFCC is committed to safeguarding the financial space of the nation in the overall interests of all Nigerians.