The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has identified five websites allegedly involved in the fraudulent harvesting of Nigerians’ data.
This revelation follows an alarm raised by Paradigm Initiative, which reported that certain websites are selling Nigerians’ National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), International Passport, and other sensitive data.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, the Commission listed the websites engaging in unauthorized data harvesting as:
| No. | Website |
|---|---|
| 1 | idfinder.com.ng |
| 2 | Verify.Ng/signin |
| 3 | championtech.com.ng |
| 4 | trustyonline.com |
| 5 | anyverify.com |
“NIMC urges the public to disregard any claims or services offered by these websites and to refrain from providing their data, as these sites are potentially fraudulent and the information gathered is used to build illegal data services,”
The statement from NIMC.
Nigerians’ Data Not Compromised
The Commission also clarified that Nigerians’ sensitive data have not been compromised as claimed by Paradigm Initiative, stating that it has taken measures to further strengthen the NIN database.
“At this moment, the Commission assures the public that Nigerians’ data has not been compromised, and no website or entity has been authorized to sell or misuse the National Identification Number (NIN) or any other identity information as reported.
“The public should be aware that the Commission has implemented robust measures to safeguard the nation’s database from cyber threats. We have a secure, world-class, foolproof database that meets the stringent ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standard, with annual recertification and strict compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Law,” the statement added.
NIMC advised Nigerians to avoid providing their data to unauthorized and phishing sites due to the risk of data harvesting and compromising personal information.
Partners Not Authorized to Store Data
Reaffirming its commitment to upholding ethical standards in data protection, in line with federal government directives and data privacy regulations, the Commission noted that its licensed partners or vendors are not authorized to scan or store NIN slips but are only permitted to verify NINs through approved channels.
Read also: Nigerians’ NIN, BVN data sold online for cheap – Paradigm Initiative.
NIMC added that it is working closely with security operatives to apprehend those masquerading as online vendors and ensure they face legal consequences.
“NIMC urges the public to remain vigilant against false information and to rely on verified sources for accurate updates. The Commission remains committed to providing secure and reliable identity management and upholding the highest level of security for systems and databases, which are critical national assets,” the statement concluded.
