Nigeria’s Information Technology regulator, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has issued a strong warning to the public over a fraudulent online platform known as “CPM,” which is allegedly exploiting victims through a double-layer scam involving false claims of government involvement.
The agency said the platform has been targeting Nigerians with promises of online earnings and investment returns, only to later restrict withdrawals or allegedly freeze users’ funds. In a further twist, operators of the scheme reportedly told subscribers that their systems had been hacked and that additional payments were required to “recover” trapped funds.
NITDA expressed concern that the fraudsters are now falsely invoking the agency’s name to appear legitimate, claiming that the regulator is involved in resolving the supposed technical issues and authorizing recovery payments.
In a public disclaimer signed by its Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, the agency categorically distanced itself from the platform, describing the claims as false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to deceive already distressed victims.
“NITDA wishes to categorically state that these claims are false and misleading,” the statement emphasized, adding that the agency does not request or collect money from citizens for cybersecurity intervention, incident response, or recovery of funds from private platforms.
According to the agency, the scheme reflected a classic “double-extortion” tactic commonly used by cybercriminals, where victims of an initial fraud are targeted again with promises of recovery in exchange for additional payments.
NITDA advised Nigerians to immediately stop all financial engagement with the operators of the CPM platform and avoid sending any further funds under the guise of activation, recovery, or clearance fees.
The agency also urged the public to verify all claims of government involvement strictly through official channels, warning against reliance on messages or instructions shared by unknown individuals or third-party platforms.
Citizens were further encouraged to protect sensitive financial information, avoid high-yield online investment schemes, and promptly report suspicious cyber-related activities to relevant law enforcement agencies.
Reaffirming its commitment to cybersecurity awareness and digital safety, NITDA said it will continue to monitor, expose, and combat online fraud networks targeting vulnerable Nigerians.
