'Stop Selling Your NIN' – NIMC Warns Nigerians

‘Stop Selling Your NIN’ – NIMC Warns Nigerians.
Over 2,000 people have already fallen victim to such fraud schemes.
The Commission says it won’t be liable for data shared voluntarily.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has cautioned Nigerians against sharing their National Identification Number (NIN) with unauthorized individuals or organisations, warning of serious security risks and legal consequences.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the warning follows a disclosure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that over 2,000 Nigerians have fallen victim to fraudsters offering between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 in exchange for NIN data. The collected information is then resold to Fintech firms for as much as ₦5,000.

Quoting the EFCC, NIMC stated, “This fraud scheme is largely driven by an army of young Nigerians offering a paltry payment to victims to surrender copies of their personal information, which is later sold to some Fintech institutions.”

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, described the trend as a “serious security concern” with “grave consequences for the NIN holders.”

He made it clear that the Commission will not be held responsible for any data misuse resulting from individuals voluntarily sharing their personal details for money or other inducements. “Disclosing your personal data carelessly can expose you to identity theft, fraud, and other criminal activities,” Adegoke warned.

The Commission also reminded Nigerians that repeated advisories had been issued warning against the disclosure of NIN to unauthorized parties. It urged service providers to properly verify all NINs before granting access to any services, stressing the importance of safeguarding national identity data.

To protect their information, Nigerians are encouraged to download the NIMC’s official NINAuth App from Apple iOS or Google Play Store, which offers secure access and control over personal data.