KOHIMA, DECEMBER 14 (MExN): The Global Naga Forum (GNF) today informed that some scammers are allegedly impersonating the forum with the intention of deceiving the public.
These individuals are contacting people, falsely claiming to be representatives of GNF, and inviting them to join a Zoom meeting purportedly hosted by the forum, the GNF stated in an urgent public notice issued by its Convenor, Chuba Ozukum, and Co-Convenor, Prof Rosemary Dzuvichu.
The notice further stated that there have been numerous reports of WhatsApp accounts, particularly those of well-known individuals, being hacked. The hackers are using these compromised accounts to send messages to friends and family, asking for money under the pretext of an emergency or urgent need. Accordingly, the GNF urged the public not to respond to such calls or messages.
“Please note that GNF will never contact you to request money or invite you to a Zoom meeting without proper verification. Our official communication channels are listed on our website and social media platforms,” it emphasized. In a general advisory, the forum also cautioned the public to be alert about video calls and messages from unknown sources.
“As a precaution, we advise the public to avoid answering video calls or responding to messages from unknown sources. These could be attempts to blackmail, extort, or scam individuals,” it said.
To protect oneself from such scams, the GNF recommended avoiding joining video calls from unknown sources and refraining from sharing personal or sensitive information with unfamiliar individuals.
It also advised verifying the authenticity of messages by directly calling the sender (not via WhatsApp call) and being cautious of requests for money, especially those citing emergencies or distress.
“Secure your WhatsApp and other social media accounts by using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication,” it added. If one becomes a victim of such scams or receives suspicious calls or messages, the GNF urged reporting the incident to the police without delay, as this will help protect others from falling prey to these scams.
