Safety Tips
120 practical tips to protect yourself and your family from fraud.
Showing 120 tips
Never send money to someone you have never met in person — no matter how long you have chatted online.
Urgency is a scammer's most powerful weapon. If someone is pressuring you to act fast, slow down instead.
A real person with good intentions will never disappear if you ask for time to think.
If something feels wrong, it usually is. Trust your instincts — they are often correct.
Search anyone's name + 'scam' or 'fraud' before sending money or personal details.
Never share your OTP, PIN, or password with anyone — not even your bank.
Legitimate businesses do not ask for payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer.
Always verify independently. Call the official number of any organisation before acting on instructions.
If you receive an unexpected windfall or prize, it is almost certainly a scam.
Never give anyone remote access to your computer unless you are certain who they are.
Insisting on video calls early is one of the best ways to verify someone's identity.
If someone avoids video calls, claims camera is broken, or always cancels — be very suspicious.
Do a reverse image search on any profile picture. Scammers steal photos from real people.
Be cautious of anyone who falls in love very quickly — scammers call it 'love bombing.'
Military personnel, doctors, engineers on oil rigs — these are the most common romance scammer personas.
Any online partner asking for money should be immediately suspected — even after months of talking.
Scammers often say they want to visit but always have a last-minute emergency requiring your help first.
Real love does not come with a price tag. Any relationship requiring money from you is suspicious.
Be extra cautious of people who contact you unexpectedly via text, WhatsApp, or social media.
Ask a new online contact questions about their specific location — streets, local landmarks, weather.
There is no legitimate investment that guarantees returns. Guaranteed profits is the #1 scam signal.
Never send crypto to unlock profits. If you cannot withdraw, it was never real money.
Pig butchering scams take months to build. A long relationship does not make an investment real.
Any trading platform that requires a 'fee' or 'tax' to withdraw is a scam — guaranteed.
Legitimate investment platforms are regulated. Always verify a company's license before investing.
Crypto is irreversible. Once sent, it cannot be recovered. Never invest what you cannot lose entirely.
Copy trading, liquidity mining, and yield farming groups on Telegram are almost always scams.
Any website showing your 'profits' could be showing you fake numbers. Verify everything externally.
Scammers use fake screenshots of returns to lure more investment. Always verify with real sources.
If a stranger introduces you to a great investment opportunity, the only opportunity is for them.
Microsoft, Apple, and Google will never call you unsolicited about a virus or breach.
Pop-up warnings telling you to call a phone number are always fake — close them immediately.
Never give anyone remote access to your device unless they are your own IT support.
Scammers who get remote access can install malware, steal passwords, and empty bank accounts.
Hang up immediately on anyone claiming your account is compromised and asking for personal details.
Use two-factor authentication on every important account — it stops most account takeover attempts.
Keep your software updated. Many scams exploit unpatched security vulnerabilities.
Use a password manager to create unique passwords. Reused passwords are a scammer's best friend.
Never share photos of your ID, passport, or driver's license in online relationships.
Your BVN, NIN, or social security number should never be shared with anyone online.
Banks verify you, not the other way around. Never prove your identity to someone who calls you.
Scammers use your ID photos to open fraudulent accounts or apply for loans in your name.
Check your credit report regularly for accounts you did not open — a sign of identity theft.
Be careful what you share on social media — birth date, mother's name, and pet names are common security questions.
Shred physical documents containing personal information before disposing of them.
Never send money as a 'proof of trust' — this is a classic manipulation tactic.
Money mule schemes are illegal. Being used to transfer money makes you a criminal too.
Never use your bank account to receive or forward money for someone you do not know.
If a job offer involves handling other people's money, it is likely a money laundering scheme.
Overpayment scams: if someone pays more than agreed and asks you to return the difference, it is fraud.
Always verify a buyer or seller's identity before completing any financial transaction online.
Never let emotional pressure override your financial judgment — scammers deliberately cause this.
Request a face-to-face meeting or video call before sending money for any purchase.
Use escrow services for large online purchases to protect both buyer and seller.
If someone says you owe money for a debt you do not recognise, get legal verification first.
Verify the identity of people in your online groups. Scammers join to target members.
Fake news about scams can itself be a scam — check sources before sharing or acting on information.
Impersonated accounts look identical to real ones. Always verify direct messages from known contacts.
Scammers create fake profiles of your friends to ask for money — always call to verify.
Be cautious of investment tips shared in WhatsApp or Telegram groups — these are common scam vectors.
A blue checkmark can be purchased on some platforms — it does not guarantee authenticity.
If an 'influencer' promises investment returns, it is likely a promoted scam for commissions.
Talk to a trusted friend or family member before making any major financial decision online.
Scammers often work in teams. The 'agent', 'lawyer', and 'broker' you speak to may all be the same person.
Emotional manipulation — making you feel guilty for doubting them — is a major scammer tactic.
Legal threats by phone are almost always fake. Real legal processes happen in writing.
Customs fees to release a package you never ordered are always a scam.
A prize you did not enter a competition to win is not real — do not pay to claim it.
Any business that uses only messaging apps and no physical address is highly suspicious.
Check the domain name of any website carefully — scammers use domains one letter off from real ones.
Never click links in unsolicited emails or text messages — go directly to the official website.
Verify any message claiming to be from your bank by calling the number on your card.
Recovery scams target people who have already lost money — no one can truly 'recover' crypto.
Be suspicious of anyone offering to trace or return your stolen funds for a fee.
The harder someone pushes you to decide now, the more time you actually have — take all of it.
Scammers do their research. They may know details about you from social media to seem credible.
If a deal or relationship requires secrecy, it is a major red flag — legitimate things can be verified.
Children are increasingly targeted by gaming and social media scams — educate yours regularly.
Elderly people are disproportionately targeted. Share scam awareness information with older relatives.
Job scams often ask for money upfront for training, equipment, or background checks — avoid them.
Fake exchanges and wallets are designed to look exactly like real ones. Download only from official sources.
Never invest in any platform recommended by someone you met online, however trusted they seem.
DeFi yield farming and liquidity pool opportunities promoted by strangers are almost always scams.
Pump-and-dump crypto schemes are illegal. Be wary of groups hyping unknown coins.
Scammers show fake app screenshots of growing balances. Real verification requires independent checks.
Do not share intimate photos with anyone online — scammers use them for blackmail (sextortion).
Sextortion scammers will threaten to send your photos to family unless you pay. Report them immediately.
The kindness and attention scammers show you is deliberate and calculated — it is called grooming.
There is no shame in being targeted by a scammer. These are professional criminals. Speak out.
Once you send money to a romance scammer, you become a target for repeat victimisation.
Enable login alerts on all your accounts — you will know immediately if someone accesses them.
Regularly audit apps that have access to your social media accounts and remove ones you no longer use.
Use a separate email address for online shopping and sign-ups to protect your primary inbox.
Be wary of online quizzes — they collect personal answers that match common security questions.
Real employers pay you — they never ask you to purchase equipment or pay for training upfront.
Advance fee fraud (419 scam) has evolved but the core remains: pay a small fee, receive nothing.
Investment returns above 20% per month are mathematically implausible without extreme risk or fraud.
Check any charity before donating — fake charities spike during disasters and emergencies.
Peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal have no buyer protection — treat like cash.
Document any suspicious financial interaction — screenshots, call logs, and messages — before blocking.
Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi to prevent attackers from intercepting your sensitive communications.
Regularly review your Google account permissions and revoke any apps you don't recognise.
Deepfake video and voice can now imitate real people convincingly. Verify through multiple channels.
AI-generated messages can be flawless in grammar — do not trust fluency as a sign of legitimacy.
Backup your important files regularly — ransomware cannot hold you hostage if you have backups.
Check the email sender address carefully — spoofed emails use addresses very similar to real ones.
Phishing emails create fake urgency: 'your account will be closed.' Go directly to the site instead.
Check the creation date of any social media account contacting you. Very new accounts are suspicious.
Thin social media profiles with few friends or posts may indicate a fake account.
Scammers often move conversation quickly from a public platform to private messaging apps.
Asking someone to move off the platform where you met is a classic isolation tactic.
Fake giveaways on social media require you to follow, share, or pay a small fee — all scams.
Share your experience with scams publicly — your story could save someone else from being defrauded.
Reporting scams to EFCC, NITDA, or the platform helps authorities identify patterns and prosecute.
Financial abuse in relationships often starts with requests to handle money — recognize these patterns.
Never let the shame of being scammed stop you from reporting — it prevents others from being hurt.
Scam tactics evolve constantly. Stay informed by following official fraud awareness organisations.
Your bank can sometimes reverse a fraudulent transfer if you report within 24 hours — act fast.
If you suspect money laundering, you can report anonymously to authorities in your country.
Every scam you survive and report makes the community safer. You are not alone in this fight.
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