Getting Paid? Here’s How to Spot Fake Bank Alerts in Nigeria Before It’s Too Late
By: Erewunmi Peace
With the rise of mobile banking in Nigeria, fake bank alerts have become one of the most common forms of fraud, especially targeting small business owners, online vendors, and service providers. Criminals now use mobile apps and text spoofing tools to send messages that appear to be legitimate bank credit alerts — but in reality, no money is ever transferred.
If you’re accepting payments for products or services, here’s how to spot a fake alert before it’s too late.
- Check Your Bank Balance — Don’t Rely on SMS Alone
Scammers send SMS messages that look like genuine alerts, but your actual account balance remains unchanged. Always check your balance through your bank’s mobile app, USSD code, or email alert system before confirming receipt of funds.
- Look for Suspicious Sender IDs
Real bank alerts come from official shortcodes or verified sender names. If the message comes from random names like “Credit Alert” or “BankFunds,” it’s likely fake. Some spoof apps even allow the scammer to change the sender ID — be vigilant.
- Watch Out for Poor Formatting and Typos
Legitimate bank messages are professional, consistent, and accurate. Fake alerts often contain spelling errors, missing commas, inconsistent capitalization, or incorrect account numbers.
- No Kobo? It’s a Red Flag
Most Nigerian banks include kobo (₦0.00) in every transaction alert. If the alert shows just “₦50,000” with no decimal value, it might be fake.
- No Notification in Your Mobile Banking App
If the SMS looks real but your banking app doesn’t show a transaction, it’s likely a scam. Always confirm payments using your official bank channels — not just the message you receive.
- Fake Apps Like “Flash Fund” Are Being Used
Apps such as Flash Fund and others can generate very realistic alerts within seconds. These are used to trick vendors, POS operators, and online sellers into believing a transaction has occurred.
How to Stay Safe:
Always verify payments before releasing goods or services
Don’t act under pressure or urgency from a buyer
Use POS terminals or bank transfers where you can confirm instantly
Keep records of all transactions
Report fraud cases to your bank or the EFCC’s Scam Response Unit
In a digital age where scams evolve quickly, being alert and informed is your best defense. When in doubt — always verify.
