How telecom users can prevent cyber-attacks – EFCC

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has advised telecom users to shun acts that are untoward and stay safe.
It urged mobile phone users to be wary of individuals they give their phone numbers to generate social media account authentication codes such as not to be caught on the wrong side of the law.
The Benin Zonal Head of EFCC, Muktar Suleiman Bello, gave the advice while fielding questions from newsmen at the weekend in Benin City.
He stated that EFCC has activated a reporting tool to clamp down on internet fraudsters and have stepped up sensitization programmes towards arresting the ugly trends.
The move according to him, was in response to the avalanche of complaints received by the commission from victims of Advanced Free Fraud popularly known as 419 in Edo and Delta States.
He revealed that the measure has helped to check the menace of strong-stomached thieves who trawl through personal details and documents in the internet without obtaining authorization.
Muktar said: “We must allow people to understand the damage their negligent behaviour could cost them as a matter of necessity.
According to him, “Fraudsters now use people’s phone numbers to generate social media account authentication codes”.
He disclosed that operatives from the Benin Office had on July 23, 2019 arrested nine suspected internet fraudsters.
Muktar, said that the suspects were raided at their various hideouts in Benin City, Edo State, following an intelligence gathering.
He also gave the names of the suspects who were between the age bracket of 20 and 25 years as Amadin Collins, Edafitite Abel, Usianene Elizojie, Ojiefor Marvelus, and Uduehi Osumor.
Others are Geigi Emmanuel Ose, Osaro Osakpolor, Francis Omoiegbe and Onuoba Prince Nonso.
Exotic cars, laptop computers, mobile phones, flash drives and internet modems among the items recovered from the suspects who have made useful statements ahead of their arraignment in court.