The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued an urgent public warning following a sharp increase in sophisticated phishing messages and coordinated cyberattacks aimed at compromising personal bank accounts.
In a press statement released Tuesday, the apex bank alerted Nigerians to a wave of fraudulent emails and online communications falsely presented as official CBN correspondence. These messages often contain malicious links and spread false information about the Bank’s leadership, licensing, and policy changes.
The CBN stated that the primary objective of these fraudulent communications is to deceive recipients into clicking malicious links, thereby granting hackers unauthorized access to sensitive personal data and financial accounts.
The Bank specifically noted that the scammers are circulating “false information” about the CBN’s internal operations to create panic, confusion, or a false sense of urgency among the public.
Hakama Sidi-Ali, Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the CBN, reiterated that the Bank’s sole official website is www.cbn.gov.ng. She urged the public to take the following safety measures immediately:
STOP– Do not click on any links or share personal information on suspicious websites or social media prompts.
VERIFY – Always cross-check any news or communication purportedly from the CBN using the official website or trusted media outlets before taking action.
REPORT– Immediately report any suspicious emails, websites, or messages to law enforcement authorities.
The apex bank assured Nigerians that it is actively collaborating with security and intelligence agencies to strengthen cybersecurity frameworks across the financial system.
“The CBN remains fully committed to safeguarding the Nigerian financial system,” the statement read, adding that measures are being intensified to protect the public from digital fraud.
If you receive a message claiming to be from the CBN that asks for your account details or urges you to click a link to “update policy information,” do not engage — it is almost certainly a scam.
Stay vigilant. For authentic updates, always visit the official CBN website:
www.cbn.gov.ng