“I Bought Nigerians’ NINs for Just ₦150” – FIJ Uncovers Illegal Data-Selling Website

 Abuja, Nigeria – An investigation by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) has uncovered a private website, eremeeverify.com, illegally selling Nigerians’ sensitive personal data, including National Identification Numbers (NINs), for as little as ₦150.

                 eremeeverify.com Website Dashboard

Unlike previous illegal platforms, the site allows users to directly create accounts without administrator approval. Once signed up, buyers can instantly retrieve NIN details of any Nigerian by simply inputting a registered phone number.

FIJ reporters tested the system by purchasing the NINs of two consenting journalists for ₦150 each. The transaction was seamless, raising alarm about how easily sensitive identity data can be obtained and misused.

The website also advertises other sensitive services such as Bank Verification Number (BVN) checks and SIM PUK retrieval, although these features were non-functional during FIJ’s test.

Owner Exposed

                   Miracle Lucky Eremee. Source: Facebook

Further digging revealed that the site is operated by Miracle Lucky Eremee, a young man who has openly promoted the platform on Facebook, including in groups where Nigerians

Despite its activities, eremeeverify.com does not appear on the National Identity Management Commission’s (NIMC) list of licensed agents, last updated in September 2023.

                                         

                                         Miracle’s Post

Experts warn that such platforms pose serious financial and security risks. By selling unrestricted access to personal data, fraudsters, scammers, and criminal networks can exploit Nigerians’ identities to obtain loans, make fraudulent purchases, or even commit crimes in their names.

Beyond financial damage, the exposure of home addresses, phone numbers, and family details raises risks of harassment, blackmail, and kidnapping in an already insecure country.

NIMC Responds with Hostility, Not Solutions

FIJ reports that after publishing multiple investigations into illegal NIN and BVN marketplaces, its own website came under a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack traced to NIMC headquarters.

This has sparked concerns that instead of addressing the illegal data leaks, NIMC has chosen to attack the messenger while Nigerians remain vulnerable.

The discovery of eremeeverify.com once again highlights the urgent need for tighter regulation, better cybersecurity, and accountability in Nigeria’s identity management system.