Cybercrime: NCC takes campaign to consumers in Delta

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on Thursday, held a Consumer Townhall Meeting in Delta State to sensitise telecoms consumers on the menace of cybercrimes in the country.

The event, which held in Warri, had major telecoms providers, government functionaries, security agencies, students, market women, commercial drivers and other consumers in huge attendance.

Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mrs Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, said the event was an NCC’s initiative to coalesce with telecom operators, consumers and NCC to identify, discuss and proffer solutions to issues affecting telecoms consumers.

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Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, in his remarks on behalf of NCC top management, disclosed that the regulator had established an Internet Industry Code of Practice for internet service providers in the country.

He noted that the code would help to secure the country’s cyberspace against threats from cyber attackers as well as address issues like online child protection, privacy and data protection, and other objectionable contents.

Mrs Norah Awe of the Social Justice Consumer Advocacy, in her presentation on the theme: “Mitigating Effects of Cybercrime: Roles of Telecom Consumers,” identified causes of cyber crimes to include an inordinate quest for wealth, urbanisation, unemployment and negative role model.

She averred that people fall victims of cybercrime due to laziness, lack of device update, review of privacy setting, linkage of account with third-party, reuse of passwords and emotional sensitivity.

Mrs Awe, therefore, charged telecoms consumers to assist in curbing the menace of cybercrime through social awareness, self-awareness, self-management in the use of passwords, vigilant with online relationships and caution when downloading songs and videos among others.

Governor of Delta State, who was represented by Mrs Onokpise from the Ministry of Science and Technology at the interactive event, thanked NCC for bringing the awareness to the state at a time many consumers are falling victims to cybercriminals.

She urged telecoms service providers, the regulator and consumers to play their roles effectively to mitigate the menace of cybercrimes in the state.