The National Identity Management Commission (National Identity Management Commission) has raised fresh concerns over the activities of cybercriminals operating fake National Identification Number (NIN) websites designed to harvest Nigerians’ personal data and expose them to identity theft.
The commission warned that fraudulent online platforms and social media flyers are currently circulating, falsely claiming to offer free NIN data modification and correction services.
According to NIMC, the scam campaigns are part of a growing wave of cyber-enabled identity fraud targeting unsuspecting citizens.
In a statement, the commission urged Nigerians to disregard such platforms, stressing that all NIN modifications must only be carried out through its approved and official channels.
“The public is hereby advised not to use the above for modifying their NIN data. All modifications should only be done via the official channel,” the commission stated.
NIMC explained that some of the fake flyers claim the Federal Government has opened a special portal for free correction of NIN details such as names, dates of birth, and gender information—claims it described as false and misleading.
The commission said it has not authorised any third-party website or platform to carry out NIN modifications, warning that engaging with such sites exposes citizens to serious security risks.
Security and digital rights experts have also raised concerns that these fake portals are designed to collect sensitive personal information including full names, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, state of origin, and local government areas.
They warned that such data could be exploited for identity theft, SIM swap fraud, financial scams, and other cybercriminal activities.
NIMC further cautioned Nigerians to always verify identity-related services through its official platforms and avoid sharing their NIN or personal details with unauthorised individuals or websites.
The commission stressed that as Nigeria continues to expand the use of digital identity for banking, telecommunications, and government services, the need for strong data protection and digital awareness has become more urgent.
With millions of Nigerians relying on the NIN for verification across multiple services, stakeholders have called for intensified public awareness campaigns to help citizens identify fraudulent websites and avoid falling victim to scams.
NIMC urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious NIN-related requests or platforms, reiterating that only official government channels should be used for registration, verification, and modification of identity records.
