NIMC Exposes Scam: Many Nigerians Registered With Fake NIN

• NIMC uncovers syndicate issuing fake NIN, arrests suspects, undergoing prosecution.

• Syndicate operated sophisticated scam, masquerading as NIMC employees, defrauding Nigerians.

• NIN database enrollment exceeds 107.34 million, importance for security and governance emphasized by NIMC DG.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) declared on Friday that it has unearthed and is actively dismantling a syndicate responsible for issuing fake National Identity Numbers (NINs) to unsuspecting Nigerians.

During a press briefing in Abuja, NIMC Director General Abisoye Coker-Odusote revealed that several suspects involved in the fraudulent scheme have been apprehended and are currently undergoing prosecution.

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According to this online media platform’s findings, members of the syndicate were captured following a complaint from a customer who reported paying N120,000 to modify her birth certificate, a service falsely offered by individuals pretending to be NIMC employees.

“This data does not come to our server and a

lot of Nigerians have been scammed,” Coker-Odusote said, emphasizing the gravity of the issue.

The DG further revealed that, as of May 2024, the NIN database had successfully enrolled over 107.34 million Nigerians, a significant increase from 104 million in December 2023.

The NIN has become an essential tool for enhancing security, governance, and service delivery across various government platforms.

Coker-Odusote detailed how the syndicate operated, often masquerading as business vendors or cyber café operators.

They meticulously crafted links, developed software, and generated counterfeit NINs, deceiving many into believing they were authentic.

The operation exhibited a high level of sophistication, as the fabricated data never entered the official NIMC servers, evading immediate detection.

The exposure of the fraudulent ring spurred additional investigations, revealing further suspects operating in proximity to NIMC’s annex office.

Though the precise count of individuals under interrogation remains undisclosed, the NIMC pledged that all culprits would be prosecuted for cybercrimes once the investigation concludes.

Coker-Odusote expressed her frustration with the ongoing extortion and data breaches.

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“We will not allow them to parade as if they are part of us and they are not,” she stated, confirming the emotional and financial toll on victims.

In one notable case, a woman was exploited for over N120,000 under the guise of adjusting official documents, highlighting the severity of the scam operations.