The office of Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has issued a cautionary alert following the compromise of one of the governor’s phone numbers by cybercriminals attempting to extort money from unsuspecting individuals.
In a statement shared on Facebook on Sunday, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, revealed the unsettling development, urging the public to disregard any unsolicited messages soliciting financial assistance purportedly from Governor Otu.
Ogbeche emphasized that the public should remain vigilant and ignore any such messages allegedly originating from the governor’s compromised phone number.
According to Ogbeche, the breach occurred in the early hours of Sunday, February 11, 2024, when hi-tech criminals gained unauthorized access to one of the governor’s mobile numbers. Exploiting this breach, the hackers attempted to perpetrate fraudulent activities aimed at defrauding unsuspecting individuals.
Immediate measures were taken to secure the compromised number, and relevant security agencies have been alerted to investigate the incident and apprehend the perpetrators behind this reprehensible act.
As the investigation unfolds, Governor Otu’s office reassures the public of its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of communication channels and protecting citizens from cyber threats.