EFCC Warning: New Airline Promo Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a strong public warning regarding a new wave of fraudulent schemes targeting unsuspecting Nigerians under the guise of airline promo offers. According to an official statement from the EFCC, scammers have devised a method to lure victims using deceptive online promos particularly ticketing discounts from foreign airlines. Victims are tricked into paying small fees such as ₦500, which are disguised as charity donations. Through this, fraudsters gain access to personal and financial information.

Once obtained, scammers install malware and use victims' details to transfer funds into accounts primarily held by Fintech institutions, and eventually convert these into cryptocurrency for laundering. One such case involved a supposed 50% airline discount. Victims were asked to download an app for eligibility, which secretly harvested their information and enabled unauthorized withdrawals. EFCC also exposed an alarming trend where over 12,000 Nigerians act as “Account Suppliers” or “KYC Groups”, offering to buy identities including NIN slips, BVNs, and passport photos for as little as ₦1,500. These are then sold to fintech platforms for fraudulent activities.

Source: EFCC Public Alert, July 25, 2025