Internet fraud is the use of Internet services or software with Internet access to defraud victims or to otherwise take advantage of them. There are many scammers on social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Available data indicated that both individuals and businesses have lost over $100 billion due to internet fraud.
Fraudsters use social media sites to advertise various scams to a large audience, posts might include anything from investment opportunities to items or services for sale. They will also send direct messages to people trying to extract money or personal data which can then be used to access bank accounts and cards.
In 2012, Bitdefender Labs has stumbled on an increasing number of spam targeting Islamic users in the holiest month, including Nigerian-style scam offers, a barrage of sale offers and bait set out by potential identity thieves. The potential for harm is high, large accounts of popular Nigerian influencers have posted about being impersonated by such scammers.
The Covid-19 pandemic rattled Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape and highlighted serious gaps in the country’s social protection system. In April 2020, the EFCC, which is empowered to investigate, prosecute and penalise economic and financial crimes in the country, reported a spike in complaints for online scams as a result of the lockdown.
Reports reaching us has indicated that some fraudsters are using Muslim brothers and sisters name to open account on social media. Some of these criminal elements also go to the extent of using Islamic scholar’s to disguised pretending to be one.
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Similarly, they make use female accounts to scam Muslim brothers. Some brothers have fallen pry of this due to their need of a spouse. The fraudsters use different sisters name and using the fake Hijab sisters image as a profile picture.
The Muslim Voice, Nigeria findings through testimonies of victims also reveals that they also open social media groups (Facebook) and ask people to pay some certain amounts of money or send a recharge card before having numbers.
Legal expert says engaging in an online romance scam might result in criminal charges being brought against you in court. This is especially when the scam takes place across international borders. Internet fraud, identity theft, and bank fraud, among other crimes, are all prohibited under federal law. A charge of wire fraud or mail fraud for exploiting the wire service or the postal service in a wire transfer scam or any form of online romance scam can result in a lengthy prison sentence.
