By Peter Emmanuel |
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has issued an advisory warning Nigerians against malicious electronic messages designed to deceive unsuspecting members of the public into clicking harmful links or disclosing their personal information.
The Commission, in an advisory dated September 18, 2026, said some mischief-makers were sending messages falsely claiming that recipients had violated traffic rules or committed related offences.
According to the NDPC, such messages were previously sent mainly through phishing emails, but malicious communications are now being transmitted through various electronic channels.
The Commission said the messages are often designed to create fear or a sense of urgency, which could pressure recipients into clicking links, revealing personal information or following harmful instructions.
It therefore urged members of the public not to click on or follow any instruction contained in a message that cannot be independently verified.
Commission Warns Against Fake Traffic Violation Messages
The NDPC said members of the public should be cautious of messages that appear to come from government authorities, organisations or other legitimate institutions, particularly when the messages demand immediate action.
The Commission advised recipients to carefully check the sender’s address, domain name and links contained in suspicious messages before taking any action.
It said individuals should not click on a link if they are not absolutely certain that it belongs to a genuine authority or organisation.
The advisory further urged Nigerians to independently verify any suspicious communication before responding to it, particularly where the message involves alleged offences, penalties or requests for personal information.
The Commission warned that fear, urgency or the appearance of official authority should not be allowed to pressure individuals into clicking links or disclosing sensitive information.
It advised members of the public to contact the organisation or authority named in a suspicious message through a known and trusted telephone number, official website or verified email address.
The NDPC stressed that members of the public should not use telephone numbers, email addresses or other contact details contained in suspicious messages when attempting to verify their authenticity.
NDPC Urges Public to Verify Messages, Protect Personal Data
The Commission also urged Nigerians to report suspicious messages and attempts at impersonation to the NDPC and the organisation or authority being impersonated.
It advised members of the public to use strong and unique passwords for their online accounts and avoid using the same password across multiple services.
The NDPC further recommended that individuals change their passwords promptly if they suspect that their accounts or credentials may have been compromised.
The Commission also encouraged Nigerians to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever it is available, describing the security measure as an additional layer of protection beyond passwords.
According to the NDPC, taking these precautions can help reduce the risk of unauthorised access to accounts and protect personal information from malicious actors.
The Commission urged Nigerians to adopt the message, “Stop. Verify. Protect. Report,” as a guide when dealing with suspicious electronic communications.
It said the protection of personal data was a shared responsibility and urged members of the public to remain vigilant when receiving unsolicited messages.
The advisory was signed by Itunu Dosekun, Head of Media Unit, NDPC, and issued on September 18, 2026.
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