AI-generated TikTok scams impersonating OPay, UBA drain Nigerians' savings through fake grant offers
In October 2025, Mohammed Yusuf from Ilorin, Kwara State lost N150,000—nearly all his PoS business capital—after clicking a convincing AI-generated TikTok ad impersonating OPay offering free PoS machines and a N200,000 grant. The ad appeared as sponsored content with cloned Nigerian voice. Hours after sharing his phone number, OPay details, and OTP with a fake representative, SportyBet betting transactions drained his account. OPay confirmed they cannot track or recover funds withdrawn through such platforms.
This is not isolated. Premium Times investigation found AI-generated scam ads impersonating trusted brands (OPay, UBA, MTN, Airtel) and public figures (Emir of Kano, Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu) are rampant on TikTok despite platform policies. Scammers use deepfake videos, cloned voices, and urgency tactics like "apply now" and "limited slots" in English, Pidgin, Yoruba, and Hausa to target Nigeria's 37 million TikTok users. Victims like Ahmad Wura have lost cryptocurrency holdings through similar schemes. NITDA reports Nigerians lose over $500 million yearly to reported scams, with global losses exceeding $1 trillion annually.
Never share OTP or personal details for unsolicited grant/loan offers on social media. Verify opportunities only through official company websites or apps—not via links in ads. If an offer seems too good (free machines, large grants), it likely is a scam.