Fraudsters are circulating fake links on WhatsApp promising Nigerians ₦50,000 under the Federal Government's relief programme, in what appears to be an attempt to steal personal and banking information from unsuspecting users. The fraudulent messages exploit the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI), a programme launched on October 30, 2026 to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households across Nigeria.

The government is working with five payment providers — OPay, Moniepoint, MoMo PSB, ALAT by Wema Bank and NairaGram — to disburse the funds. Since the programme's announcement, fraudulent messages promising the same ₦50,000 payment have spread across WhatsApp, directing users to websites that request personal and banking details. Because the fake offer piggybacks on a genuine, recently launched programme, it can appear credible to recipients who have heard of NERSI.

The scam messages typically lead recipients to suspicious websites and ask them to complete various tasks before any money can be received. One woman described her experience in a video shared on X, explaining that she clicked on a link after receiving numerous similar messages. The website instructed her to share it with five contacts, then ten more, before asking for her bank account details. After submitting her information, she was redirected to join a Telegram bot, likely in an effort to gather even more personal data. That forwarding requirement is what pushes the link through trusted contact networks, widening its reach with each round of shares.

A separate WhatsApp screenshot shows another version of the offer. It claims the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, is giving a ₦50,000 grant to all Nigerians without requiring a Bank Verification Number (BVN). That message directs users to a website called billnova.online.

The offer is misleading. The grant is not available to everyone, and the government does not ask people to register through links or forward messages in order to qualify. Beneficiaries are selected from the National Social Register, a database of poor and vulnerable households, and from verified national identity records, and they are contacted through their designated payment providers.

The government has made it clear that there is no official link for public registration for the ₦50,000 grant. Anyone being asked to share a message, complete online tasks, join a Telegram group, or pay a fee to receive the payment is not following the proper process.

OPay customers can look for an eligibility notification on the homepage of the company's official app, or check their status by dialing 95520# from their phone. OPay has advised customers to avoid clicking on unverified links and to never share their PINs or one-time passwords.

Genuine messages about NERSI payments will come from the official names of approved providers. These messages will not include links and will never ask for a PIN, OTP or BVN. Anyone who receives a message that seems suspicious should contact the provider through its official customer service channels or call the programme's helpline at 0700-022-2222.

For those who have already shared personal details, it is crucial to contact the relevant bank or payment provider immediately, especially if a PIN, OTP, password or card information has been disclosed. Customers should request that the institution secure the account, change any compromised information, and monitor transactions for unauthorized activity.

While sharing a bank account number alone does not give someone access to funds, it can lead to further fraud attempts, including unwanted calls and messages aimed at extracting more sensitive information.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the agency responsible for investigating financial crimes in Nigeria, has also raised concerns about scammers who create fake websites and messages that mimic trustworthy organisations to steal banking details. Nigerians are urged to verify such requests independently before trusting any links, even when they come from someone familiar.

Source: TechNext24