NIN: Beware Of Fake App For Identity Card Enrolment, NIMC Warns

The National Identity Management Commission has flagged a fake mobile app, ‘NIN Linker,’ purported to link National Identity Numbers and Bank Verification Numbers to SIM cards.

NIMC said on Monday that criminals were looking to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians using the fake app.

The disowned app was released after the commission unveiled its newly launched app for linking SIM cards across the country.

“This app was not created by NIMC or the Federal Government of Nigeria. It is run by fraudsters who are currently harvesting people’s NINs and BVNs by default,” NIMC said in a monitored tweet.

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THE WHISTLER observed that the app with name ‘NIN Linker’ on Google Play Store has been downloaded over 10 thousand times. It also has over 165 reviews from unsuspecting Nigerians.

The developers of the fake app, Rafafas Apps, wrote: “You can now link your SIM to NIN based on the directive in Nigeria. Download now.
“Based on the new regulation by the federal government authority in Nigeria, all citizens both home and abroad are required to register and/or connect their SIM cards to their National Identity Number i.e NIN.

“NIN Linker app helps all Nigeria have access to the required USSD codes and SMS format of glo where users can send all of this information with NIN Linker app.

“NIN Linker helps solve the problem of having to remember all networks USSD codes and how to register for NIN and SIM cards, how to verify your NIN number among others. It specifically creates ease of registration for MTN, Glo, 9Mobile and Airtel SIM cards and linking or connecting these networks to users’ National Identity Number, NIN for all Nigeria Citizens.”

THE WHISTLER can report that Nigerians home and in diaspora are already using the app.

Based on the reviews, Abdullahi Ailakhu, one of the users said, “Please I find it extremely difficult to link my NIN to my SIM card. I have spent hours trying and have been frustrated doing so. After the initial input of data you can’t proceed but you see so many adverts that keep propping up. Please eliminate them so that those of us in the inter land without 4g.”

“The app is not useful at all. It redirects to network providers. Why come up with such an app if one cannot link one phone number to one NIN directly using the app. This is outrightly useless,” said one Adebayo Bankole.

Oluniyi Oluokun said, “It’s a good start. But I had thought that, one will just fill a mini form, inputting the NIN, Phone Number, Names and the like and press enter to see if one is already linked or not. The portion “information, check my NIN” directs one to an individual network provider’s NIN submission ussd code which does not make anything easier, but same network congestion or service temporarily unavailable problems. The portion “NIN Checker” does not even work. I pressed it more than 20 × nothing.”

The Federal Government had through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directed that all SIMs should be linked with the NIN to curb fraudulent operations in the country.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, had said that up to 7 SIM cards could be linked to a NIN.

Meanwhile the original app released by NIMC is “MWS: NIMC MobileID,” and it is available on both Apple Store and Google Play Store.

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