It’s becoming increasingly common for people to receive calls on WhatsApp from phone numbers originating in Nigeria. While some of these may be from legitimate contacts, many others are likely to be scams and spam calls. In this article, we’ll look at the main reasons why these calls happen and what you can do about them.
The rise of internet and phone scams from Nigeria
For many years now, Nigeria has unfortunately been associated with various kinds of internet and phone scams. The most well-known is the “Nigerian Prince” email scam, in which the recipient is contacted by someone claiming to be a Nigerian Prince who needs help transferring millions of dollars out of the country. While these scams have been around since the early days of the internet, the rise of apps like WhatsApp have given scammers a new platform to reach potential victims.
Some key reasons why WhatsApp calls from Nigeria have become more common:
- WhatsApp is very popular in Nigeria, with around 93 million users as of 2019. This huge userbase means there are lots of Nigerian phone numbers that scammers can spoof and use.
- WhatsApp calls are free, allowing scammers to cast a wide net without incurring costs.
- WhatsApp is seen as a more trustworthy platform than just an unknown phone number.
- WhatsApp numbers can be “spoofed”, meaning the caller ID can be faked to look like it’s coming from somewhere it’s not.
While many scammers do operate out of Nigeria itself, others spoof Nigerian numbers to try and lend credibility to their scams even if they are based elsewhere in the world.
Common Nigerian WhatsApp call and text scams
If you receive an unsolicited WhatsApp call from Nigeria, it’s likely to be one of several common scams. Some examples include:
Romance scams
This involves the scammer befriending the victim by pretending to be a romantic interest looking for a partner. After building trust over weeks or months, they will ask for money to help deal with fake emergencies or other hardships.
“Family member” scam
The scammer pretends to be a family member or friend of the victim who has lost access to their bank account or phone number. They ask the victim to send money or share personal information that can be used to access accounts.
Fake kidnapping
The scammer pretends to have kidnapped a loved one of the victim and demands a ransom payment to free them. This preys on people’s fears and urges them to act quickly without thinking it through.
Fake business proposals
A scammer poses as a businessman or woman and gets the victim to sign up to a scam investment, loan, or business partnership that will supposedly lead to huge profits.
Tech support scam
The scammer pretends there are issues detected on the victim’s computer and offers to fix them in return for payment. They may install malware that actually causes problems used to justify the “fix”.
Fake charities
Scammers pretend to be seeking donations for fake charities, disaster relief funds, or other noble causes, playing on people’s goodwill to steal money.
Why do the calls come from Nigeria specifically?
As mentioned earlier, Nigeria unfortunately has gained a reputation for being the source of many online scams. However, there are also some specific reasons why Nigerian numbers are so commonly spoofed and used, including:
- Nigeria has a large population, so there are many potential victim phone numbers for scammers to target.
- High unemployment and poverty in Nigeria motivates some towards online scamming.
- English is an official language in Nigeria, so scammers can more easily communicate with foreign victims.
- There is poor regulation and policing of telecoms and phone numbers in Nigeria, making it easy to buy hundreds of SIM cards and spoof numbers as the scammer wishes.
It’s important to note that the vast majority of ordinary Nigerians have nothing to do with scamming. But the factors above have made the country a prime source of WhatsApp scam calls.
How to recognize a scam call from Nigeria on WhatsApp
Here are some telltale signs that a call from a Nigerian number on WhatsApp is likely a scam:
- You don’t recognize the number as someone in your contacts.
- The country code is +234, which is the code for Nigeria.
- The call is unsolicited and not expected.
- The caller claims there is an urgent problem or time pressure.
- The call asks for personal information or money to help the caller.
- You’re asked to click on a suspicious link or provide banking/credit card details.
- The story from the caller seems improbable or bizarre.
Even when speaking to the caller, things like poor English, suspicious background noises, or an overall “too good to be true” offer are red flags of a scam.
How to deal with scam calls from Nigeria on WhatsApp
If you receive a suspected scam call on WhatsApp from Nigeria, here are some tips on handling it:
- Do not answer if you don’t recognize the number. Let unknown callers leave a voicemail.
- If you do answer, never provide any personal info or agree to transfer money.
- Hang up immediately if the call seems suspicious.
- Block the number immediately so you don’t get called again.
- Report the number to WhatsApp as spam.
- Warn friends and family about the scam call in case the number tries to contact them.
- Contact your phone provider to find out how to get numbers from a certain country blocked.
Remember, genuine businesses or contacts will never pressure you to take an action over WhatsApp call, especially transferring money. Stay vigilant and trust your instincts.
Can I stop all calls from Nigeria on WhatsApp?
For individual WhatsApp users, there is no setting to block an entire country from calling or messaging you. The app does not have that level of geo-blocking capability.
However, there are a few options you could consider:
- Ask your mobile network provider if they can block all incoming calls from Nigeria. Some providers do offer this service, though often for an added fee.
- Install a third party call blocking app that allows blocking by country code. Examples include Truecaller, Mr. Number, and Hiya.
- Disable the WhatsApp calling feature altogether in your app settings. This will stop any calls coming through.
The easiest solution though is to be vigilant in not answering calls from unknown Nigerian numbers. Check the number first and ignore or block any suspicious ones.
Conclusion
Receiving WhatsApp calls from Nigeria can be annoying and concerning due to the high number of scams originating from the country. However, with vigilance and common sense, the scam calls are avoidable. Check numbers carefully, don’t answer or engage with suspicious callers, and block or report them immediately. Be very wary of any request for money or personal details over WhatsApp call. Discourage scammers by not becoming a victim.