A customer sends a screenshot of a transfer. Your phone buzzes with a "credit alert" SMS. They're in a hurry: "I've paid, please send the rider." Some time later you check your bank app and nothing came in.
Fake alerts are one of the oldest scams Nigerian vendors face. The good news is that one habit stops almost all of them.
How big is the problem?
The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) reported in January 2026 that digital payment fraud losses fell to ₦25.85 billion in 2025, down 51% from ₦52.26 billion in 2024. (NIBSS noted that 2024 was inflated by a single ₦31.1 billion incident.) The number of fraud cases fell only about 4%, to 67,518.
Two details matter for vendors:
- Lagos accounted for 63.43% of fraud activity, far ahead of any other state.
- E-commerce and internet banking were the most affected channels, and NIBSS named social engineering (tricking people) as the most common technique.
In other words, losses are down, but scammers still target exactly where online sellers do business, and they rely on rushing and fooling people.
How fake alerts work
- Fake SMS: a message designed to look exactly like your bank's credit alert, sent from a number or sender name that looks official.
- Edited screenshots: a "successful transfer" receipt made with an app or photo editor.
- Pending or reversed transfers: the sender shows a real transfer that is still pending, or one that later fails or gets reversed.
- Pressure: the scammer rushes you ("my driver is waiting", "I'm at the airport") so you don't check properly.
The one rule
No credit in your account, no release of goods.
A screenshot is not money. An SMS is not money. Only a balance you can see in your bank app (or your bank's internet banking) counts.
A simple payment-check routine
- Open your bank app yourself (don't tap links in any message) and check that the credit is there and your balance went up.
- Match the details: amount, sender name and time. If the name doesn't match the customer, ask why before you release anything.
- Ignore pressure. A genuine customer will wait two minutes while you confirm. Anyone who gets angry about checking is a red flag.
- If you're unsure, call your bank's official customer care line, using the number on your card or the bank's official website, not a number someone sends you.
- Never share your PIN, OTP, password or BVN with anyone, including people claiming to be from your bank.
- For big orders, consider a payment gateway or payment link, so you get a clear confirmation from the provider.
Extra protection
- Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) for your banking apps and email, as the Central Bank of Nigeria advises.
- Use a separate account for your business, so every credit is easy to spot.
- Keep a simple record of orders and payments (even a notebook or spreadsheet).
- Save chats and receipts; you may need them if you report a case.
What to do if you've been scammed
The Central Bank of Nigeria advises reporting fraud to your bank, and to law enforcement such as the EFCC, the Nigeria Police, the DSS or the ICPC. Report quickly, and give your bank the transaction details, chat screenshots and the other person's account details.
Make honest payment info part of your shop
Customers trust vendors who are clear about payment. On your page or price list, state how people can pay, that goods are released once payment reflects, and your delivery terms. It filters out time-wasters and protects you from arguments.
You can add clear prices and order details to every product with our free WhatsApp Order Link & QR Generator, or let PlugPage build a page with your payment and delivery policy spelled out.
Sources
- NIBSS, "Digital payment fraud drops 51% to N25.85b, Lagos accounts for 63%" (22 January 2026).
- Legit.ng, "N25.85bn in 2025: NIBSS Reveals Biggest Fraud Technique in Nigerian Banks" (23 January 2026).
- Central Bank of Nigeria, "Fraud and Scam Alert" (reporting channels and safety tips).
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Platform rules and fees change; check the linked official sources for the latest. PlugPage is not affiliated with Google, WhatsApp, Meta, Paystack or the other companies mentioned.