The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has warned Nigerians against the activities of some unauthorised websites harvesting people’s data
The websites are idfinder.com.ng, Verify.ng, championtech.com.ng, trustyonline.com, and anyverify.com.
The NIMC gave the warning in a statement signed by Kayode Adegoke, its head of corporate communications, on Saturday.
On June 20, Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise, raised alarm over its discovery of the sale of national identification numbers (NINs), bank verification numbers (BVNs), and other personal data of Nigerians on a website for as low as N100.
According to the organisation, a website known as ‘AnyVerify.com.ng’ was discovered to be involved in the commercial distribution of personal and private data of Nigerians.
Paradigm Initiative added that several unauthorised websites are claiming to hold and provide access to sensitive personal and financial data of Nigerian citizens “for as little as 100 Naira”.
“This alarming development presents a major breach of the fundamental rights to privacy, a breach of data privacy rights, and poses significant risks to individuals and the national economy,” the firm said.
Reacting to the report, the commission said AnyVerify.com.ng and other aforementioned websites are data harvesters and unauthorised to access or manage sensitive data.
The agency also denied the exposure of sensitive data of Nigerians “as alleged and reported”.
“The commission, at this moment, assures the public that the data of Nigerians has not been compromised, and the Commission have not authorised any website or entity to sell or misuse the National Identification Number (NIN) amongst all the identities stated in the report,” NIMC said.
