The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has sensitised motor spare parts traders in Ibadan on telecom and e-fraud while using their phones.

NCC spokesman Ayanbanji Ojo said this at the NCC consumers sensitisation programme held at Agodi-Gate motors spare parts market on Thursday in Ibadan.

Mr Ojo said the commission had received several complaints of financial fraud through telecoms platforms. He said the commission decided to bring the sensitisation with the theme ‘Shine Your Eyes, No Fall Mugu’ to the market because of the vulnerability of most traders to events and happenings in the telecommunications space.

He urged them to keep their Subscribers Identification Module(SIM) cards safe, beware of ‘free gifts’ internet links, use strong passwords and guide against Identity thefts online. Mr Ojo also advised that they should always be careful of investment schemes perpetuated on telecoms platforms.

“The market people are our telecom consumers. Without them, we can not exist as a regulator. The market people deserve to know what is going on in the telecoms space. There have been so many complaints on the loss of money,” stated the NCC spokesman. “So, we need to educate our consumers all the time because we are now in the sustainability of the telecoms industry.”

He added, “If we do not sustain the telecom consumers, the fraudsters will take advantage of them. As telecom regulator, we advise people to go to their service providers to resolve complaints. But if they are dissatisfied, they can call NCC toll-free number ‘622’ to resolve the issue.”

President of the Ibadan Motor Parts Dealers Association, Moruf Olanrewaju, commended the NCC’s efforts to protect phone users from telecom fraud.

(NAN)