Why Site Trading Nigerians's NIN and BVN Info for N100 Is Raising Alarm

This is one scary and unbelievable story. Currently, there is a website people are using to access the private information of Nigerians using their NIN and BVN for only N100. It is an appalling story, and something to be mindful about while sharing this information out. Here's what's happening.

**Before reading on, please make sure to sign up for my newsletter below so you don't miss out on any new and interesting lists, articles, and stories that I post every single day.

For Nigerians, our National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) are private information needed both locally and internationally. We provide a lot of information when getting these numbers, including our picture, our phone numbers, our home addresses. Our information is very private and in the wrong hands, can be used very dangerously.

Well now, with N100, a website called AnyVerify is reportedly selling this information which is a major problem and a serious privacy breach. The website doesn't seem to belong to any Nigerian authority and the unsanctioned site brags about what they do saying:

We provide millions of our users reliable and quickest services to verify people’s identity using their NIN, BVN, International Passport, Driving License, Voter’s Card and do much more

This is very alarming and thankfully, one initiative has already started taking action. The Paradigm Initiative, a non-government organization is calling on the Federal Government to look into this dangerous website saying:

THE PARADIGM INITIATIVE: From our research, AnyVerify.com.ng is a website involved in the commercial distribution of personal and private data of Nigerians. On its webpage, a drop-down displaying the myriads of data services which the website renders can be observed. These include personal data such as the NIN, the BVN, a virtual NIN, Driving License, International Passport, Company details, Tax Identification Number, Permanent Voter’s Card and Phone Numbers.

All these are sold by this website to any interested party for the sum of N100.00 (One Hundred Naira Only) for each data request. This website was visited 567,990 times in February 2024 and 188,360 times in April 2024.

Due to the severe implication for millions of Nigerians, we have through our legal partners, Vindich Legal, served a pre-action notice to the following Government Agencies: National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Central Bank of Nigeria, Independent National Electoral Commission, Federal Road Safety Corps and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

Fraudulent transactions and identity theft can erode public trust in financial institutions, potentially leading to a financial crisis. This is exacerbated by recent findings of huge losses suffered by financial institutions in Nigeria due to digital manipulation.

The breach of driver’s licence information and other personal data can compromise national security. Such information can be exploited by criminal elements for unlawful activities, posing a threat to the safety and security of the nation.

While this is being investigated and hopefully resolved, this whole fiasco further serves as a reminder to all to continue to be extra careful with our information. NIN, BVN, and all our private data should be kept close to our chest as people are really on the hunt for them and not to do anything good with. Please, continue to remain safe out there.

What do you think about this whole thing? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment either below or on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

That's All.

I hope you’ve learned. Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter if you don’t already for more stories like this - collated every week and sent right to your inbox so you don't miss out on anything.

To catch up on other content you might have missed, click here.

Until next time, have a wonderful rest of your day