Paradigm Initiative has uncovered what appears to be a significant data breach involving personal and sensitive details of millions of Nigerians collected during various government exercises, digital rights organization Paradigm Initiative has disclosed that the personal information of Nigerians is readily accessible on online platforms for as little as 100 naira.
This revelation came through a press statement obtained by Techmoonshot.
The statement specifically implicated AnyVerify.com.ng, a platform operating in Nigeria’s digital space since November 2023. In February 2024, the website recorded 567,990 visits, and in April 2024, it saw 188,360 visits.
“In a startling discovery, Paradigm Initiative has uncovered that several unauthorized websites are claiming to possess and provide access to sensitive personal and financial data of Nigerian citizens for as little as 100 Naira. This alarming development represents a severe breach of individuals’ privacy rights and poses significant risks to both individuals and the national economy,” the statement reads.
This revelation follows our previous report alerting the public and government to the existence of an unauthorized website, www.XpressVerify.com.ng, which accessed registered Nigerians’ data for profit. After our report, the website was swiftly taken down by its hosting platform, Namecheap.
The site offers a range of services, including access to National Identity Numbers (NIN), Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), driving licenses, international passports, company details, Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC), and phone numbers.
Read also:NameCheap Suspends XpressVerify Amidst Concerns Over NIN Data Security.
AnyVerify boasts on its website: “AnyVerify helps you to quickly and simply achieve that at the speed of light! using various methods such as NIN, BVN, Voter’s card, international passport, driving license, etc.”
Given the gravity of the situation, Paradigm Initiative has stated that it has served a pre-action notice to several government agencies, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
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