NIMC reveal names of 5 websites fraudulently ‘harvesting’ data of Nigerians  

Our reporter/ The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on Saturday released the names of five websites allegedly harvesting Nigerians’ data fraudulently.

The development comes following the recent alarm raised by Paradigm Initiative that some websites are selling Nigerians’ National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), International Passport, and other data.

In a statement by its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, obtained by Alabingo.com, the Commission named the rogue websites engaging in the illegal harvest of data without its authority to include:

“NIMC urges the public to disregard any claims or services these websites offer and should not give their data as they are potentially fraudulent and data provided by the public on such websites are gathered and stored to build the data services they illegally provide,” it stated.

Data of Nigerians safe

The Commission further stated that Nigerians’ sensitive data have not been compromised as claimed by Paradigm Initiative, adding that it has taken measures to strengthen the NIN database further.

“At this moment, the Commission assures the public that the data of Nigerians has not been compromised, and the Commission has not authorized any website or entity to sell or misuse the National Identification Number (NIN) amongst all the identities stated in the report.

“The public should know that the Commission has taken robust measures to safeguard the nation’s database from cyber threats- a secure, world-class, full-proof database is in place. The commission’s infrastructure meets the stringent ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standard, with annual recertification and strict compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Law,” it said.

NIMC advised Nigerians to avoid giving their data to unauthorized and phishing sites as they pose the danger of data harvesting and comprise individual data.

Recall that Pan-African social enterprise, Paradigm Initiative, had on Friday expressed concern that several unauthorised websites are claiming to hold and provide access to sensitive personal and financial data of Nigerian citizens “for as little as 100 Naira.”

Paradigm Initiative said the unauthorised access to personal data is a blatant infringement on the privacy of Nigerian citizens as the dissemination of such information could lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other malicious activities, including data owners being targeted by burglars, kidnappers or terrorists who buy data that includes home addresses.

It added that the availability of sensitive financial data online could undermine the stability of Nigeria’s banking system.