By Our Correspondent

National News – The National Information Technology Development Agency has denied claims linking it to the recovery of funds allegedly lost on the online earning and marketing platform known as CPM.

The agency said reports circulating online falsely claimed that NITDA was helping subscribers recover trapped investments after the platform allegedly suffered a cyberattack.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Hadiza Umar, the agency said affected users were allegedly told to make additional payments before their funds could be recovered.

The operators reportedly claimed the payments were connected to a NITDA-backed recovery exercise.

NITDA, however, described the claims as false, misleading and deceptive.

The agency stressed that it does not request or collect money from Nigerians to provide cybersecurity support, recover lost investments or resolve online financial disputes involving private platforms.

According to the agency, the requests for extra payments may be part of a fraudulent scheme designed to exploit victims who already lost money on the CPM platform.

NITDA warned Nigerians against sending additional funds to any individual or group claiming to represent the agency in connection with investment recovery.

The agency advised members of the public to verify all claims of government involvement through official communication channels before making financial commitments.

It also urged Nigerians to avoid sharing sensitive personal or banking information with unverified online entities.

NITDA further encouraged users to exercise caution when dealing with online investment and digital trading platforms promising unrealistic returns.

The agency said cybercriminals often use social engineering tactics to manipulate victims into making repeated payments under false recovery promises.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to promoting cybersecurity awareness and protecting Nigerians against online scams, digital fraud and deceptive internet activities across the country.