Nigeria is dressing internet abuse by ponzi scheme operators on its cyber domain to curtail exploitation of its citizens.
Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA)- the professional body regulating the country’s internet domain on Friday said it had established a Law Enforcement Desk to handle complaints on Domain Name abuse.
NIRA President, Mr. Sunday Folayan who made this known in a statement in Lagos, said that NIRA had also developed an Internal Procedural Process to manage and deal with such complaints received.
He said that NIRA would work in conjunction with relevant law enforcement agencies to stem the tide.
”If you discover any form of Internet abuse with .ng websites please send an email to abuse@nira.org.ng. We will deal with it.
”Together we can make the internet safe for us and our children,’’ he said.
According to him, most Nigerians are being defrauded by various forms of Ponzi schemes while the fraudsters are operating under various names and platforms.
He explained that a ponzi scheme was a fraudulent investment operation where payment to its initial investors was from the payments made by new investors and not from profit earned through legitimate sources.
Folayan said that in recent times, Nigerians had varied experiences to narrate on the matter of ponzi schemes.
According to him, while a few testify to the benefits derived from the scheme, majority are lamenting because they are have been left high and dry.
He said that many had fallen victims as the schemes had impoverished more people than they claimed to have helped.
He, however, said that the scammers were feeding on the greed of the people and the poor economic situation to lure more victims.
He added that this was in spite of warning by the Federal Government that Nigerians should not invest or get involved in such fraudulent schemes.
Folayan said that recently, innocent people’s contact details such as phone numbers and emails, were being used as administrative contacts for these schemes.
According to him, the victims of the identity theft only get to know when defrauded victims start calling and demanding for payments.
He said that several people had received threatening phone calls regarding their fate, if they do not pay up.
Folayan said that NIRA had taken concrete steps to further assist law enforcement agencies to deal with the menace.
