CBN alerts Nigerians to rising cyber fraud attempts following recent CAC breach
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a public warning about ongoing cyberattack attempts targeting Nigerians’ personal and financial information, coming shortly after a reported breach at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
In a statement released and signed by Hakama Sidi Ali, the bank’s acting director of corporate communications, the CBN disclosed that fraudsters are distributing deceptive emails and messages falsely claiming to originate from the apex bank.
According to the regulator, these fraudulent communications are crafted to mislead recipients into clicking malicious links or divulging sensitive personal data. The messages also contain false information about the bank’s leadership, licensing processes, and policy decisions in an attempt to appear credible.
The CBN emphasized that its official website remains [www.cbn.gov.ng](http://www.cbn.gov.ng) and urged Nigerians to verify any communication attributed to the bank through trusted platforms. It advised the public to avoid engaging with suspicious links or sharing confidential information online.
“Members of the public should verify the authenticity of any CBN-related message through official channels and report suspicious emails, websites, or messages to law enforcement agencies,” the statement said.
Reassuring the public, the apex bank stated that it is working closely with relevant authorities to strengthen its cybersecurity systems and safeguard the financial ecosystem against digital threats.
The warning follows confirmation from the Corporate Affairs Commission on April 15 that its systems had been compromised in a cyberattack. Earlier, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) also announced an investigation into an alleged data breach involving Remita Payment Services Limited, Sterling Bank, and other organizations.
