The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has warned Nigerians against fraudulent electronic messages falsely claiming that recipients have violated traffic rules or committed related offences.

The messages may be designed to create fear or urgency and trick recipients into clicking malicious links, following harmful instructions or disclosing personal information, according to the data protection agency.

The deceptive messages were previously associated largely with phishing emails but are now being distributed through various electronic communication channels, NDPC said, urging Nigerians not to act on messages that cannot be independently verified.

“Do not allow fear, urgency or the appearance of official authority to pressure you into clicking a link or disclosing your personal information,” the NDPC warned.

It advised recipients of suspicious messages to check the sender’s address, domain name and embedded links before taking any action.

Where there is uncertainty about the authenticity of a message, the Commission recommended contacting the organisation or authority named in the communication through a known and trusted telephone number, website or email address.

The NDPC cautioned against using contact details provided in suspicious messages, saying this could expose recipients to further fraud or attempts to steal personal data.

It also urged Nigerians to report suspicious messages or attempts to impersonate legitimate organisations to both the NDPC and the organisation being impersonated.

The data protection regulator also advised Nigerians to strengthen the security of their online accounts by using strong, unique passwords and avoiding the reuse of passwords across multiple services.

It recommended changing passwords promptly where there is a suspicion that an account or password has been compromised.

The Commission further encouraged users to activate multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever available, describing the additional verification step as an extra layer of protection beyond passwords.

The NDPC said the warning reflects the growing use of electronic communication by malicious actors seeking to obtain personal information by impersonating trusted institutions.

It urged Nigerians to follow a simple approach when confronted with suspicious messages: “STOP. VERIFY. PROTECT. REPORT.”

The Commission stressed that where a message cannot be independently verified, recipients should not click its links, follow its instructions or disclose personal information.

It added that protecting personal data is a shared responsibility, requiring individuals to exercise caution while organisations and public authorities take steps to prevent the misuse of their identities.