Several Nigerian outlets reported this week that three men were arraigned in Abuja over an alleged ₦18.2 million fraud in which they are accused of impersonating the blogger Tunde Ednut. The EFCC is reported to have brought the charges. The case is a useful reminder: when a famous name asks you for money, or promises you something for money, the name proves nothing.
This post explains what was reported, what it does and doesn't tell us, and how to protect yourself from the same trick, whoever is being impersonated.
What was reported
Headlines from Premium Times Nigeria, The Whistler, Peoples Gazette, Tori News and The Nigerian Voice say three men were arraigned in Abuja over an alleged ₦18.2 million impersonation scam involving Tunde Ednut. PM News carried a headline describing how the three allegedly impersonated the blogger for fraud. The Whistler and Premium Times attribute the arraignment to the EFCC.
We are working from headlines only, so we won't describe how the alleged scheme worked, who lost money or what plea was entered. The men are suspects on trial. Nobody should be treated as guilty until a court rules. Read the full reports from those outlets for details.
Why impersonating a famous person works
Scammers don't need to hack anyone. They copy a public face and rely on your trust. Celebrities, bloggers, pastors, politicians and business owners have large followings, and a fake account with the same photo and name looks convincing at a glance.
The usual pretexts are:
- Giveaways: "Send ₦5,000 to qualify" or "pay a small fee to receive your prize."
- Promotions and shoutouts: pay to be featured, to have a business "pushed," or to be part of a campaign.
- Investment or contract offers: "I'm backing small businesses, but you must first pay for registration."
- Personal help: a fake direct message saying the celebrity wants to help with school fees or rent, then asking for a "processing" payment.
In each case the money moves from you to them first. Real giveaways and real sponsors don't need your cash up front.
Red flags that the account is fake
- It contacted you first. A well-known person rarely sends unsolicited direct messages to strangers.
- Slightly wrong handle. Look for an extra underscore, a swapped letter, a number, or "official" added to the name.
- No verification you can confirm. Go to the person's real profile, through a link on their website or a trusted news story, and compare handles and follower counts.
- Pressure. "Pay within the hour," "only ten slots left," "don't tell anyone."
- Payment to a personal account. Businesses and campaigns that are real usually have a company name on the account. Even that can be faked, so it's not proof.
- Move to WhatsApp or Telegram. Scammers move you off the platform where they can be reported.
- Poor grammar or odd tone that doesn't match how the person writes publicly.
How to verify before you pay
Spend five minutes checking. It costs nothing.
- Open the celebrity's real page yourself, not through the link in the message. Look for a post warning about impersonators. Many public figures publish their only official accounts.
- Search the offer on the real account's recent posts. A genuine giveaway will be announced there.
- Ask a question only the real person's team could answer, or request a call to a verified business number. Scammers usually avoid this.
- Check the account name when you start a transfer. Most Nigerian banking apps show the name on the destination account. If a "celebrity promotion" shows a stranger's name, stop.
- Tell a friend. A second pair of eyes breaks the urgency.
A hypothetical example
Say you run a small fashion page with 4,000 followers. A message arrives from an account that looks like a popular blogger: "We are featuring 20 small brands this week. Pay ₦25,000 for a slot, and 500,000 people will see your page."
The checks: the account contacted you first, it's asking for payment to a personal account, and the real blogger's page has no announcement of this. Even if the person were real, paid promotion should come with a written agreement, an invoice and a business account. You decline, block and report the account. You lose nothing. If you had paid, the likely loss is the ₦25,000, plus possibly more "upgrade" requests.
If you've already paid
- Contact your bank immediately through its official line or app. Give the transaction reference, time, amount and receiving account. Speed matters, because funds are moved quickly.
- Keep evidence: screenshots of the chat, profile, handle and payment receipt. Don't delete the conversation.
- Report the account on the platform itself.
- Report to the authorities. The EFCC and the police take fraud complaints; our guide on how to report a scam in Nigeria covers channels and what to prepare.
- Beware of "recovery agents." People who were defrauded are often contacted by someone offering to get the money back for a fee. Treat that as a second scam.
Common mistakes
- Trusting follower count. Fakes buy followers or copy screenshots.
- Paying a "small" fee. Scammers start small because it works, then ask for more.
- Sharing OTPs, BVN or card details for a "verification." No legitimate giveaway needs them.
- Staying quiet from embarrassment. Reporting early helps you and warns others.
The same pattern shows up in job scams, so read how to spot a fake remote job offer too.
Other things in the news
Arise News also reported that the NCC has set up an Internet Governance Working Group aimed at tackling online fraud and protecting digital users. We only have the headline, so we can't say what the group will do. It's a sign regulators are paying attention, but you can't wait for them to protect you. Your own checks come first.
Frequently asked questions
Can a celebrity really send me a direct message?
It can happen, but treat it as unlikely. Verify through the person's confirmed channels before doing anything.
Is it safe to pay if the account name matches the celebrity?
No. A matching display name doesn't prove identity. Check the handle and the destination account name.
What if I only shared my phone number?
Be careful with calls and texts for a while, never give out OTPs, and tell your bank if you suspect more.
Does reporting actually help?
It can, particularly if you report fast with evidence. Cases like the one reported this week show enforcement agencies do pursue impersonation.
Next step: today, find the official accounts of any public figure you follow and note the real handles. Then pass this checklist to one family member who tends to trust giveaways.
Source: N18.2m Tunde Ednut Impersonation Scam: Three Arraigned in Abuja (Nigerian Voice)
This article is for general information only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Prices, rates and rules change quickly, so check current details before making money decisions.