The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cyber crime

  • Hacking INEC server is as an act of terrorism, says Lawyer

    Dr Kayode Ajulo, a constitutional lawyer says hacking computer server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is as an act of terrorism.

    Ajulo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that the provisions of cyber crime act 2015 recognised INEC sever as one of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).

    He added that such act of unlawful access to INEC sever amounted to a crime if tampered with in any way without authorisation

    According to him, based on the provision of the law, INEC server contains sensitive information about the elections which comes within the definition of CNII.

    Ajulo noted that hacking or employing any person to hack into the server of an election umpire with the aimed of interfering with the electronically transmitted data to INEC Server comes within the definition of “acts of terrorism”.

    He stated that such act was a calculated attempt to destroy the fundamental political, constitutional, economic and social structures of a country.

    ”Unauthorised access of data in any country has a lot of implications and if allowed to go unchecked may herald a regime of lawlessness within the internet community.

    “The activities of this group of people and the damage they may cause cannot be quantified.

    ” It is in recognition of the incalculable nature of the havoc which they may wreak on this nation that the cybercrime Act 2015 recommend life imprisonment as penalty for tampering with CNII of the country.

    He stated that this was because the vital information might be used to misinform as well as incite the populace against the state.

    Ajulo said that the exigency of modern innovations in the field of computer networking has made the need for data protection.

    He added that this has been the paramount concern of every country seeking to curb the inroads of persons with sinister motives into the field.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Service (DSS), accusing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of illegally accessing the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    In the petition dated March 25, and addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the DSS Director General, Festus Keyamo, spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, urged the security agencies to question the leadership of the PDP on their claims relating to the INEC server.

    Although he was not specific on the identities of the PDP leaders he wants investigated, Keyamo made reference to the fact that the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has filed an election petition against the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and has made a claim of having access to INEC server.

    He claimed that upon the postponement of the Feb. 16, presidential/National Assembly elections, already prepared presidential election results surfaced on the Internet.

    Keyamo accused the PDP of hacking into the INEC server and inputing false figures.

    He, therefore, called on the security agencies to respond to the petition with “alacrity”.

    Responding, the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, alleged that the APC was panicking because of the case instituted before the tribunal by the party and Atiku.

    He said this was why the ruling party was writing petitions to the DSS and the police.

  • EFCC arrests 24 undergraduates, others over cyber crime

    Operatives of Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 36 suspected internet fraudsters at 21, Sawmill Road, Awa-Ijebu, Ogun State.

    The commission’s acting Head, Media and Publicity, Mr Tony Orilade, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

    Orilade stated that the suspects, who were between 19 and 37 years of age, included 23 university students, out of which, nine were ladies who allegedly claimed to be girlfriends and or neighbours of some of the suspects.

    He added that one of the suspects was from another university, while 12 others were not students.

    He stated that EFCC got wind of their activities through intelligence reports alleging that the suspected fraudsters were obtaining money by false pretence.

    He said: “The suspects carry out their activities by sending emails to unsuspecting victims mostly in the United States of America, while others were engaged in romance scam on several dating sites.

    “At the point of arrest, EFCC operatives recovered over 300 SIM cards from them.”

    Orilade said other items recovered from the suspects included different models and brands of exotic cars, 18 laptops, nine being of Apple brand, 50 cell phone, including 21  iphones and two bags of fetish objects.

    A source told The Nation that millions of naira was found in the bank account of one of the suspects identified simply as Biggie, who was planning to buy the latest model of a top automobile brand.

    The source added that about 13 posh cars were recovered from the suspects.

    Orilade added that the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.

  • Ifa priestess, sons held for ‘kidnapping, cyber crime’

    A woman and her two sons are being held by the police for alleged kidnapping and cyber crime.

    The woman, Aminat Ajibola, 60, described as an Ifa priestess, her sons, Akeem Bashiru, 32, and Solomon Ojo, 26, according to the police, operated a kidnappers’ den at 15, Irepodun Street, Egan, a Lagos suburb.

    They allegedly stalked their victims on social media, lured them out and kidnapped them for ransom.

    They were arrested following complaints by a woman, Bridget Obazee whose brother Osahon was kidnapped. The complainant reported to the Igando Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Taiwo Kasumu, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), on Friday that her brother, had been missing for days. She said those keeping him were demanding N1.5 million ransom or he would be killed.

    In a statement yesterday, police spokesman, Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), said the kidnappers warned the woman not to involve the police.

    Oti said: “The DPO quickly contacted Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal, who reinforced his team with men drafted from the intelligence unit of the command and together, they left in search of the victim.

    “Through discreet investigation, the suspects were arrested at the location around 11am that day. Two victims were also rescued from the apartment.

    “The victims are Fadugbagbe Akindele of 7, Peace Crescent Salolo, Meiran, and Augustine Ekwegbalu, who was lured from Anambra State, with the promise of a job in an oil company.

    “They had been held for weeks by the kidnappers pending payment of ransom by their families. All those rescued had been identified and reunited with their relations.”

    According to Oti, Ojo confessed that he lured victims with promise of job offers or same-sex relationships.

    The suspect, he said, confessed that their mother empowered them spiritually. He quoted the suspect as saying that she used charms to intimidate and instill fear in their victims.

  • Youths and cyber crime

    It is becoming a reality that cyber- crime has come to stay in Nigeria, with cybercriminals stepping up their activities without stiff resistance from the security agencies. Internet fraud, which is now widely known as Yahoo Yahoo has become the most rapid way of acquiring ill-gotten wealth with ease. It is like a safe net for jobless youths in today’s Nigeria.

    Cybercrime or computer-based crime is a crime that involves the use of computer and an Internet network to commit financial crime. Fraudsters use these lofty digital tools to swindle hardworking people of their hard-earned resources. Today, all digital devices including computers, tablets, and smart phones are used as tools for Internet fraud.

    The crime includes unlawful actions carried out on or by means of a computer such as fraud or fake email messages to get personal information from Internet users. The scammers engage in identity theft, shut down or misusing website or computer networks by hacking into them. Some criminals spread hate message and incite terrorism through the Internet. Some distribute child pornography and offensive messages.

    The rate at which young people get involved in cyber crime is alarming. The dimension increases every year with a new scope of scam messages. Students, who are supposed to be pursing their future, have also got themselves involved in cyber crime.

    The 2017 report of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said Nigerian banks lost N2.19 billion to electronic fraud orchestrated by cyber criminals that targeted and wreaked computer systems of financial institutions. This figure was so alarming that the National Security Adviser said the country could no longer afford to allow fraudsters break into computer systems of key institutions.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, was also alarmed by the revelation in his keynote speech during the First Legislative Stakeholders Conference on ICT and Cyber Security in Abuja, last year.

    Many youths have found themselves in this illicit activity. They make fame and acquire wealth through cyber crime. These young people ride on expensive cars, live flamboyant lifestyle and stay in posh apartment in highbrow areas. The flash expensive jewelries and make merry everyday of their lives.

    Some of them use computer to scam their victims, others use  Smartphones that can download applications  mostly used by the hackers for their devilish act. Rather than engage in lawful means of livelihood, they believe the best way to be rich is by venturing into cyber crime.

    There is a section of this fraudster population that believes in employing diabolical means to boost their ill-gotten wealth. They use spiritual means in getting a fast response from their ‘clients’ without thinking of the implications. Some of them have been caught for bloody ritual.

    The recent one happened in Akure, the Ondo State capital. One Khadijat who happened to be daughter of a former Deputy Governor was alleged to have been used for money ritual by his boyfriend and kept her corpse under his bed for six days as instructed by the native doctor.

    The youth are now committing different atrocities as they struggle to accumulate a quick wealth. The primary reason they engage in cyber crime is greed and love for money. They don’t want to earn their wealth; they want to ride on expensive cars and clothes at the expense of other people’s sweat.

    The alarming rate of corruption among government officials is a fuel that stokes the fire of cyber crimes. The young people also want to live the lifestyle of the corrupt political class and decide to get their own share of ill-gotten money through Internet crime.

    Also, the rate of unemployment encourages the youths to take to Internet fraud. Undergraduates leave school after their parents invested a huge amount of money to get them education. They spend years at home without any hope of getting paid employment. Many also did not possess the ability to succeed in a legitimate way. Because of the negative inspiration from the society that places much value on material wealth, many youths lost their essence and believe they cannot make it in life without involving in fraudulent dealings.

    Bad upbringing by parents also contributes to nurturing criminals. Peer pressure has led many young people into crime.

    Weak cyber security protocol used by government and private organisations also helps criminals to carry out their nefarious activities. Also, weak laws that fail to punish criminals fuel cyber crime.

    To curb computer-based crime, there must be an improvement in network security that should neutralise threats to computer database and information. Government should also introduce stringent laws to curb activities of the electronic fraudsters. Government should support the cyber crime working group set up by the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo aiming stop cyber crime in Nigeria.

    The youth must be made to undergo value orientation that would change their mindset from material wealth to hard work. There should be efforts to engage young people in vocational training to pave way for opportunities for decent jobs.

    National computer society should build a platform to develop local methods of using Information Communication Technology (ICT) to secure computer database from comprise by cyber criminals. There should be policies that must discourage the use of unsecure wireless connections as it is done in the United States.

    Every citizen must support the efforts to rid the country of cyber crime and Internet fraud. These crimes should not be seen as values to be espoused in our society.

  • Police nabs cyber-crime suspect in Abuja

    The Police have arrested one, Oscar Eze, a cyber-crime suspect  in Abuja.
     According to the Police, the arrest of the suspect was possible after a team of operatives from the Intelligence and Investigation of Zone 7 got a tip off. 
     The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the arrest of the suspect. 

Lakanu who was represented by the Spokesman of Zone 7, DSP Istifanus said that the suspect specialises in luring his victims through the Internet to hotels.
     He also said the suspect usually drug and rape his victims who are mostly women. 
    On how he was arrested, he said: "As a bait, a friend request was sent to the suspect which he accepted and in his usual manner, invited the new friend to one of the hotels in Jabi district of Abuja."
    He also said the suspect attempted to steal the hand bag of his victim which contained some money, an iPhone, ATM card, and school card.
     Lakanu said that the suspect confessed to the crime and gave a clear picture of his modus operandi.
     He said: "The suspect drugs his victims who are mostly women and eventually rape them and in some cases, he also dispossesses them of their valuables."
     The police boss said the suspect would soon be arraigned in court while efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects.
     He also appealed to the general public, especially parents to educate their female wards to be wary of cyber-crime fraudsters using dating sites.

  • Nigeria, others lose $3.5b to cyber crime

    Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda – together lost $3.5 billion to cyber crooks last year, a cyber security firm Serianu, has said.

    Its Africa Cyber Security Report 2017 explained that  the five African countries suffered damages and losses through post-attack disruptions.

    “Further analysis of cyber crime for the countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania was estimated at $3.5 billion a year, which includes direct damage and loss, post-attack disruption to the normal course of business and reputational loss,” the report said.

    In the leading five countries, banking and financial services were most affected, losing $248 million during the period under review.

    Government lost $204 million, while e-commerce, mobile-based transactions and telecommunications lost $173 million, $140 million and $119 million respectively.

    The Project Leader at Cashless Kenya, Simon Muriithi, said this situation could limit the benefits of technology within the banking sector.

    “For us, this is one of the biggest challenges in going digital in Kenya right now, but we have good security experts locally who can help banks bridge the gap,” Muriithi said.

    Nigeria’s provider of shared platforms for financial transactions, the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) said the country’s payment system remained one of the most secured in the world.

    Its Business Development, Niyi Ajao, however agreed that no matter the means of payment chosen, there is always the risk of losing cash if care is not taken.

    He said: “Even if you go by cash, the risk of losing money is always there if you don’t apply by the basic security principles. If I put my cash inside my purse and I don’t keep my purse well, pick-pockets will pick it.  So, for all these other new channels, including the mobile phone, it has its own risk but the beauty of it is that every customer, everyone that abides by the basic principles, would not lose money.

    “For instance, with the mobile phone payment, even if you steal my phone, to complete a payment process you need my PIN (personal identification number).”

  • Cyber Cafe fraudsters to face prosecution

    Cyber Cafe fraudsters to face prosecution

    The Coordinator of the Cyber-Protection Corps of Nigeria (CPCN) Longe Olarenwaju Thursday said hard time awaits cyber cafe fraudsters in the country.

    Besides, he cautioned Nigerians against the abuse of social media to prevent cyber menace.

    At a forum on Cyber Crime in Akure, the Ondo state capital, Olarenwaju said it is dangerous for people to give information about their daily activities on the social media for security reasons.

    He noted that social media is for positive interaction and information sharing.

    Olarenwaju pointed out that cybercrime is an illegal activities committed on the internet with the use of the computer.

    The CPCN coordinator said the cyber protection corps carry out investigation on issues of cybercrime to expose cyber criminals.

    According to him, the agency has been assisting law enforcement agents to arrest cyber criminals and recently trained members deployed to each state in the Southwest to assist in fighting cyber criminals.

    He urged Nigerians to be wary of the antics of cyber criminals, stressing that their action could take any form including spoofing, blackmail, sports betting, child pornography, prostitution and copyright infringement.

    Another Information Communication Technology (ICT) expert with CPCN, Godspower Otali said people should desist from getting involved in internet financial scheme that make them loose substantial money.

    Otali cited the Ponzi scheme as an example of scams on the internet that has made many people loose valuables with negative effects on the economy.

    He expressed concern over the large number of youths involving in cybercrimes especially yahoo boys who are denting the image of the country.

    The ICT expert implored youths to be engaged in profitable ventures on ICT development that could develop their potentials.

  • Senate urged to enforce cyber crime laws

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Crime, Senator Fatai Buhari, has said the Senate has a role to play in the reduction of cyber crimes by creating awareness on ways to enforce cyber crime laws.

    Buhari, who represents Oyo North, spoke while delivering a lecture entitled: “Legislative Commitment and Cyber Crime in Nigeria”, during the Law Week of Faculty of Law, Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State.

    He said the commitment of lawmakers to curb cyber crimes changed recently with the passage of the Cyber Crime Act 2015 and Electronic Transactions Bill 2016.

    Buhari said having passed the law, implementation of the Act and compliance by the executive, judiciary and the citizenry was required.

    He listed the causes of cyber crimes as urbanisation, unemployment, quest for wealth, weak implementation of cyber crime laws and inadequate equipped law agencies, negative role models, high rate of poverty,

    corruption, lack of standard and natural central control, lack of infrastructure, lack of national functional data bases, proliferation of cyber cafes and porous nature of the Internet.

  • Cyber Crime: Group urges NASS to enact data protection law

    Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN) has urged the National Assembly to enact a law to control government or organisations from arbitrary access to personal information of the people.

    President of CSEAN, Remi Afon disclosed that ‎the law became imperative to protect citizens data from cyber criminals.

    He added that the country lacks professional ethics on information management of the people, as they are frequently accessed by different government agencies and private organisations such as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), commercial banks, and Telecommunications industries collecting massive personal data.

    ‎In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, as part of activities to celebrate World’s Data Privacy Day, Afon said the law if implemented would among others guarantee protection of personal information and ensure such information are not kept longer than necessary and not transferred outside the country without adequate protection.

    ‎He emphasised that South Africa made a leading example by enacting the data protection law, adding that Nigeria should follow suit.

    CSEAN boss stated that these acts could lead to misuse of the information thereby causing potential abuse and threats to the citizens.

    The statement reads: “In today’s world where governments and organizations face a heightened threat landscape with data breaches constantly on the rise, nothing less than an up to date, single and comprehensive enactment of data protection law can adequately match this threat.‎

    “Such laws have been enacted in other parts of the world, for example South Africa recently enacted the Protection of personal Information Act 2013 after the mould of the Data Protection Act 1998 of the United Kingdom.

    “A common feature of such laws are provisions which ensure that an individual’s personal data is not only collected lawfully but also used lawfully, kept securely and not circulated without due process and consent of the individual.”

    He opined that the data should be used for the purpose of which they are collected and nothing more as this would set basic rules of registration for users of data.

    “Consequently, Cyber Security Experts Association (CSEAN) will be observing the day by highlighting some of the data protection issues we face as a nation and how individuals can protect their personal data through social media, symposium and press releases,” he added.

  • Israel pledges to assist Nigeria to tackle cyber crimes

    Israel has pledged to assist Nigeria in tackling cyber-crime and internal security through the use of latest technology.

    Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Guy Feldman, made the promise at a Conference on Homeland and Cyber Security in Abuja on Friday ‎.

    The envoy, who decried the‎ menace of cyber-crimes across the world, stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to address the trend in Nigeria.

    He said Israel, although a small country had vast experience in cyber security due to its technology and human capital development.

    Feldman described Nigeria as the “Lion of Africa’’ which deserves all the supports from the international community to evolve a virile and prosperous nation.

    “Israel as a country has suffered from cyber-attacks, but it is not a problem for us but a challenge. Th‎is is because we have the technology and human resources to deal with the challenge’’, he said.

    He emphasised the need to deploy hi-tech technology, surveillance cameras and security gadgets to strategic financial and oil sectors.

    He said both countries were already discussing on how to strengthen ties and enhance business/security relations. ‎ He said that Nigeria could use the current recession and drop in oil prices to diversify its economy and focus on agriculture.

    “Nigeria is blessed with a lot of arable land, water, natural resources and population unlike Israel which is a small country’’, he said.‎ ‎ The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau stressed the need for cyber security to safeguard the nation.

    Represented by retired Brig.-Gen. Saleh Bala‎, Dambazzau said Nigeria would continue to collaborate with Israel and other foreign countries to develop the nation.

    Mr Aviad Marco, an Israeli security expert, who delivered a lecture on Tackling Cyber Crime, described the phenomenon as a new form of terrorism.

    Marco said that the activities of hackers, especially on sensitive database of a country could bring a country down if not checkmated.

    He said Israel was ready to support Nigeria in fortifying its sensitive data base and protect critical national assets, using the latest technology.

    Marco said that Israel had collaborated with the Lagos state government in addressing some of its security and traffic issues and was ready to do same with the Federal Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference which was jointly organised by the Israeli embassy and the Ministry of Interior was attended by security experts and Non-Governmental Organisations.