The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a public alert warning Nigerians to be vigilant against a new wave of fraudulent schemes disguised as ticketing discount promotions by foreign airlines, which have recently been exploited by cybercriminals to defraud unsuspecting victims of their hard-earned money.
In a statement released via the Commission’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the EFCC described the emerging scam as a malware-driven ploy used to gain unauthorized access to sensitive personal and financial information under the guise of attractive offers such as “Promo” or “Investment Windows”.
The EFCC detailed how this scheme operates: victims are lured by promotional offers, such as a 50% discount on airline tickets, and instructed to pay a nominal fee—often ₦500—to a supposed airline account. In some instances, the payment is disguised as a charitable donation. To qualify, victims are also asked to download a mobile app, purportedly belonging to the airline. Upon doing so, fraudsters use the app as a backdoor to access the victim’s personal data and financial details.
Once access is gained, the fraudsters execute unauthorized financial transactions by moving funds from victims’ bank accounts into accounts held in microfinance banks or Fintech institutions, often converting the stolen funds into cryptocurrencies to evade tracing.
A particularly alarming development, according to the EFCC, is the emergence of a network of young Nigerians across the country who operate as “Account Suppliers” or under the name “KYC Group”. These individuals offer victims between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 in exchange for copies of personal information such as BVN, NIN slips, passport photographs, and other identification documents. The data is then sold for around ₦5,000 to digital fraud networks that use them to open accounts with Fintech platforms for investment scams and other illicit schemes.
According to the Commission, over 12,000 such canvassers are believed to be operating nationwide, contributing significantly to a wider network of digital financial crimes. The EFCC emphasized that being an account donor for any reason constitutes a grave threat to national security, and urged all Nigerians to resist any inducement to share their identity documents or financial information.
The EFCC also confirmed that it has already made arrests in connection with these fraudulent “Promo” schemes and that efforts are ongoing to recover stolen funds and prosecute the culprits involved.
The Commission concluded by reassuring the public of its unrelenting commitment to protecting Nigeria’s financial ecosystem and called on citizens to stay vigilant, verify the authenticity of offers before acting, and report suspicious activity to the authorities.
“The EFCC remains resolute in safeguarding the financial space of our nation, in the interest of all Nigerians,” the statement read.
Credit: @officialEFCC via x.com.
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