In the recent week, two sitting governors in Nigeria disclosed that their WhatsApps were hacked, urging their family and friends to disregard any message asking them to send money to one account or the other......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
How to prevent your Whatsapp from being hacked
According to BBC, cybersecurity analyst Bilal Abdullahi recommends that governors add extra security measures to their phone numbers and WhatsApp accounts to prevent such incidents. He suggests linking WhatsApp to an email for authorization and using an app lock with a pin or passcode.
Despite efforts to combat cyber-fraud, also known as “Yahoo-Yahoo”, it remains a significant problem in Nigeria. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested thousands of people, but the issue persists.
The Nigerian government has invested millions of pounds in a state-of-the-art cyber-crime centre to demonstrate its commitment to addressing the issue. The director of the National Cyber Crime Centre (NCCC), Uche Ifeanyi Henry, emphasizes the government’s seriousness in tackling cyber-crime.”
Below is the list of the politicians:
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom
Suspected fraudsters hacked into Umo Eno’s WhatsApp number, the governor of Akwa Ibom state in southern Nigeria, and are using it to solicit money from his contacts.
The governor’s contacts received messages on Tuesday, August 13, asking them to transfer a specified amount of money to an account and promising reimbursement later. However, the governor’s office has confirmed that the messages are from scammers who cloned his WhatsApp number.
Akwa Ibom state is Nigeria’s third-richest state, with an annual GDP of $19bn. Governor Eno, a pastor and founder of the All Nations Christian Ministry International, was elected last year.
The governor’s chief press secretary, Ekerete Udoh, has warned the public to disregard any messages soliciting funds from the governor’s WhatsApp number, as they are from imposters. Law enforcement agencies have been notified, and the matter is being investigated.
Governor Adeleke’s WhatsApp is hacked
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State’s phone number was compromised less than a month ago in a similar incident. This highlights the vulnerability of high-profile individuals to cyber attacks.
The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, issued a statement on Tuesday warning the public about a compromised phone number: +234 803 365 7555. He advised people to disregard any messages or communications coming from this number, as they may be fraudulent.
Senator Francis Alimikhena from Edo state
Also in July, Senator Francis Alimikhena’s Glo phone line was hacked by scammers, who are using it to send messages, make calls, and chat on WhatsApp, demanding favours from the public.
His media office issued a statement warning the public not to engage with anyone claiming to represent the Senator on social media or phone calls.
The statement emphasizes that any communication from the Senator’s hacked number should be disregarded, and the public should not respond to any requests for financial or material favours.
Former Senator Afikuyomi cries out
In January 2014, former Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi’s phone was hacked by fraudsters, who took control of his WhatsApp account.
The scammers sent messages to his friends, pretending to be Afikuyomi, and requested money. Some friends called to confirm the request, while others unknowingly transferred millions of naira to the hackers’ accounts.
Afikuyomi later issued a statement to alert his friends and the public about the fraudulent activity.