Barely a few days after the federal government instructed all the major phone service operators to comply with the new regulations of ensuring everyone using their SIM card fully links their National Identification Numbers (NIN) with their lines, it has now been exposed that criminals especially kidnappers have gone extra step to connive with SIM card dealers to deceive intending buyers in exposing their NIN by using it to register the wrong number who will pay them heavily.
The game plan is that when you release the NIN to register the first sim card then they will tell the buyer that the linking was not successful and tell the buyer to take another line. If the buyers comply the first sim will be given to the criminals who will pay them a huge amount.
The Trumpet, uncovered a scene yesterday in Lagos when The buyer on noticing it threatened to call the police or report the seller to MTN office until he started pleading that he should not expose him because he was doing it for some persons, a plead that was rejected. Officials were alerted who then took up the matter.
Top Police personnel who spoke to The Trumpet have advised everyone to keep their NIN and BVN secret.
Police have however given a fresh warning to Nigerians that after linking your NIN to your SIM card, you must take note of the fact that You are naked before our security agencies, hence you must GUIDE your SIM cards more than your BVN and your ATM PIN.
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If you compromise your BVN and your ATM PIN, your money may only be affected, but if you do the same to your phones and SIM cards, you may end up in prison.
The police further advised that, with the news system in place, it is unwise to help people register their sim cards.
“Be mindful of how you give people your phone to make calls or send texts. It’s a mobile phone, let it always be with you. Don’t allow anybody to use your phone to login into an account on social media or use your phone to create anything.
“Henceforth understand that your “Sim card”, is as important as your ATM card number, your BVN, or your ATM pin. This is because, you can be held responsible for what someone did with your sim card, so be conscious”. The police warned.