The Editor,
Consumers Assembly,
Lagos, Nigeria.
Dear Sir/Ma,
Urgent Petition Regarding Digital Lending Fraud and Lack of Institutional Support
I am writing to you as a distressed entrepreneur and fashion designer based in Abuja to share a harrowing experience of financial fraud involving digital lending apps and a lack of cooperation from financial service providers. My goal is to seek justice and warn the public about the sophisticated tactics used by scammers operating under the guise of customer support.
The ordeal began on February 26th, after I repaid a loan to Palmcredit. Following the repayment, I noticed an unauthorized debit of ₦9,329. When I contacted their customer care, I was advised to take another small loan to “offset” the error, a suggestion that led me into a trap.
Upon requesting ₦10,000, I was instead credited ₦62,000. When I attempted to reject this through an agent I was directed to via the app’s official Facebook link, the situation escalated:
The agents claimed they were “generating a clearance form” to rectify the over-crediting. Instead, they triggered more loans, resulting in a credit of ₦155,200, which they directed me to “return” to a specific account.
I was later instructed to enter the amount of ₦400,000 in another app (EasyBuy), under the false pretense that the system would reject such a high amount and clear my profile. Instead, the loan was approved.
Under intense pressure from the agents, I was told to withdraw the money and send it to an OPay account via a POS operator to “reject” the loan. In total, ₦391,000 was sent to this unknown account after deducting POS charges.
Upon realizing I had been defrauded, I rushed to the OPay office in Abuja to track the recipient and freeze the funds. To my utter disappointment, no help was rendered. The lack of urgency and support from the institution whose platform was used to facilitate this theft has left me feeling abandoned as a consumer.
I am sharing this story because these fraudsters are leveraging the official links and names of reputable apps to ruin lives. I want to warn every Nigerian: never send money to an OPay account provided by a stranger claiming to be a “loan agent.” I appeal to the Consumers Assembly to use your platform to:
Investigate the security loopholes in these lending apps that allow “agents” to intercept customer complaints.
Hold financial institutions like OPay accountable for providing more robust assistance to fraud victims in real-time.
Help me seek a path toward justice and the recovery of my hard-earned funds.
I have attached all relevant transaction receipts and chat logs for your reference.
Sincerely,
Mercy Adams Olorundare
Fashion Designer & Entrepreneur
Abuja, Nigeria
Phone Number:+234 903 151 0281
