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Scams in Nigeria: what to watch for right now

A plain summary of the scams official agencies in Nigeria warn about most, with the latest published figures and the fastest way to get help.

By the TapSafely editorial teamUpdated

The numbers

In June 2025 the SEC warned that CBEX (Crypto Bridge Exchange), which is not registered with it, was demanding fees of $200 or $100 before processing withdrawals.

Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria

The SEC lists 38 illegal investment operators it sealed up between 2013 and 2022.

Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria

Scams to watch for in Nigeria

Common in Nigeria

Ponzi and fake investment schemes

The SEC warned in May 2026 about unregistered online investment schemes with Ponzi features promoted on WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Facebook and TikTok.

How to spot it
Common in Nigeria

Phishing

The Central Bank of Nigeria warns about fraudsters posing as banks or service providers to steal personal and banking details.

How to spot it
Common in Nigeria

Online shopping scams

The Central Bank of Nigeria warns about fake websites and sellers offering too-good-to-be-true deals.

How to spot it
Common in Nigeria

SIM swap fraud

Nigeria's CERT warns that SIM swap criminals divert a victim's calls and texts to steal password reset and two-factor codes.

How to spot it
Common in Nigeria

Urgent requests from fake family or officials

The Central Bank of Nigeria says social engineering scammers often pretend to be authority figures, co-workers or family members who need urgent help.

How to spot it

Who scammers pretend to be

BanksService providersCentral Bank of Nigeria and its staffUnlicensed investment advisers posing as registered firmsAuthority figures and family members

Never trust a call, text or email just because it uses one of these names. Contact the organisation using details you find yourself.

If you've been scammed in Nigeria

  1. Report cybercrime to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre through its e-reporting portal at nccc.npf.gov.ng.
  2. Report fraud to the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force or the ICPC.
  3. Before investing, check that a platform is registered with the SEC at sec.gov.ng/cmos, and report doubtful schemes through the SEC whistleblowing platform.

Where to report a scam in Nigeria

Reviewed 2026-09-16. Services change, so check the official site if a link doesn't work.

Scam Weather for Nigeria

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Questions

What are the most common scams in Nigeria?

According to official sources: Ponzi and fake investment schemes, Phishing, Online shopping scams, SIM swap fraud, Urgent requests from fake family or officials.

What should I do first if I've been scammed in Nigeria?

Report cybercrime to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre through its e-reporting portal at nccc.npf.gov.ng. Report fraud to the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force or the ICPC.

Who do scammers pretend to be in Nigeria?

Official warnings mention Banks, Service providers, Central Bank of Nigeria and its staff, Unlicensed investment advisers posing as registered firms, Authority figures and family members.

Official sources and further reading

Figures and warnings on this page come from these official sources.