How to Report Fraud in Nigeria (and Recover Your Money)
Call your bank immediately to place a Post-No-Debit lien on the recipient account, then report to the EFCC (Eagle Eye app) or the Police National Cybercrime Centre. Recovery depends on freezing the money before it is withdrawn.
Quick answer: Call your bank immediately to place a Post-No-Debit (PND) lien on the recipient account, then report to the EFCC (Eagle Eye app / eagleeye.efcc.gov.ng) or the Police National Cybercrime Centre (nccc.npf.gov.ng). Recovery hinges on freezing the money before it is withdrawn.
What to do in 3 steps
- Call your bank now. Demand a Post-No-Debit (PND) / lien on the beneficiary account and a recall of the transfer. Quote the exact date, time, amount and beneficiary account, and insist on a complaint tracking number.
- Report it. File with the EFCC via the Eagle Eye app (or [email protected]) and/or the NPF National Cybercrime Centre. A police/EFCC report strengthens the bank's authority to hold the funds.
- Escalate to the CBN. If your bank mishandles an unauthorised debit, escalate to the Central Bank of Nigeria ([email protected]) if it is unresolved after two weeks.
How recovery actually works
If you authorised the transfer, your bank is generally not obliged to refund you — recovery depends entirely on freezing the mule account via your bank and the EFCC before the cash is pulled out. For genuinely unauthorised debits you have a stronger case: report to the bank, get a tracking number, and escalate to the CBN if it isn't resolved within two weeks. The EFCC does recover and return funds in some cases, but for an individual victim it is uncertain and slow — so move within minutes.
What to have ready
- Your account number and the beneficiary's account number and bank
- The exact transaction date, time, amount and session/reference ID (a screenshot)
- All communication with the scammer — numbers, WhatsApp/email, handles, links
- Your debit alerts and the bank complaint tracking number once issued
Frequently asked questions
Where do I report online fraud in Nigeria? Your bank first (for a PND lien), then the EFCC's Eagle Eye app and/or the NPF National Cybercrime Centre.
Will I get my money back? Only if the beneficiary account is frozen before the money is withdrawn — there is no guaranteed refund.
What if my bank is slow on an unauthorised debit? Escalate to the CBN Consumer Protection Department after two weeks.
Sources
- EFCC — Eagle Eye reporting portal
- Nigeria Police Force — National Cybercrime Centre
- Central Bank of Nigeria — Complaints Management
- CBN — Fraud and Scam Awareness
For step-by-step reporting and recovery guides covering other countries, see our cybercrime help hub.