The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Friday, ordered MTN Nigeria Communications Limited to pay N15 million damages over the unlawful deduction of a subscriber’s airtime through unsolicited services.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, described as fraudulent, the regular deduction of airtime of customers by the telecommunication giant, for the auto-renewal of services not subscribed to.

It further held that the sending of unwarranted text messages by the company amounted to a breach of subscribers’ right to privacy under section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as the violation of Regulation 28 of Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.

The judgement followed an appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/137/2022, which was brought before the court by an aggrieved customer, Mr. Ezugwu Anene.

Anene had approached the court, alleging that he received over 244 unsolicited text messages from MTN for Weekly Guidance and Counseling, a service he said he did not subscribe to.

He told the court that from 2016 to 2018, N20 was unlawfully deducted from his airtime balance, each time he received the text message on his mobile telephone line he gave as 08030735301.

The Appellant alleged that MTN continued to deduct his airtime for Caller Tune Services that was imposed on him.

He told the court that the unwanted deductions persisted, even though he protested at the Abuja office of the telecommunication company and also used a code, 2442, which he was told would activate a Do Not Disturb service on his line.

The festive season is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness, but it is also a period that can present unique safety challenges. With increased travel, bustling crowds, and heightened activities, staying vigilant and prioritising your well-being is essential.

Whether shopping, attending events, or hosting gatherings, a few practical tips can help you navigate the season safely while ensuring your festivities remain memorable for all the right reasons.

In this piece, BODEX BLOG highlights valuable tips to keep you and your loved ones safe indoors and outdoors during the festive period.

1. Be Alert in Crowded Areas

Crowded places such as markets and events are common during the festive period. Keep an eye on your belongings and avoid carrying large sums of cash.

2. Secure Your Home
Install security systems, lock all doors and windows, and inform trusted neighbours if you will be away.

3. Avoid Oversharing on Social Media
Posting your travel plans or expensive purchases can make you a target for burglars or scammers.

4. Drive Carefully
Roads tend to be busier during the holidays. Follow traffic rules, avoid driving under the influence, and plan trips during the day if possible.

5. Shop Responsibly
Use trusted vendors, avoid late-night shopping, and ensure your online transactions are done on secure platforms.

6. Stay Healthy
Avoid overindulgence in food and drinks. Also, maintain proper hygiene to prevent the spread of illnesses during gatherings.

7. Plan Your Finances
Create a budget to avoid overspending. Be cautious of scams or unsolicited investment offers.

8. Be Vigilant About Fire Safety
Inspect holiday lights, candles, and cooking appliances. Ensure fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are functional.

9. Keep Emergency Numbers Handy
Save contact numbers for local police, fire services, and emergency medical services for quick access.

10. Practise COVID-19 Safety

t crowded events, consider wearing a mask if needed, and maintain hygiene by washing hands or using hand sanitisers.

In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online, the Lagos State Public Enlightenment Officer for the Federal Road Safety Commission, Route Commander Elizabeth Oluwadamilola Jayeola, shared vital safety precautions for the festive season.

She noted, “The festive season is a time of joy, travel, and heightened road activities. However, it is also a period when road accidents tend to increase due to factors like speeding, fatigue, and general disregard for traffic laws.

“To ensure safety, motorists and commuters must take deliberate steps to prioritise their safety on the road.”

Tips for Motorists:

1. Ensure your vehicle is in optimal condition by checking brakes, tyres, engine oil, lights, and wipers. Fix any faults promptly to avoid breakdowns or accidents.

2. Adhere strictly to speed limits and adjust based on road and weather conditions.

3. Avoid distractions, such as using your phone while driving. Stay focused on the road.

4. Fatigue impairs judgment. Ensure you are well-rested before embarking on any journey.

5. Start trips early to avoid night travel, which carries higher risks due to reduced visibility.

6. Respect your vehicle’s load-carrying capacity to ensure control and balance.

7. Prioritise passengers’ safety and comfort over profit.

Tips for Commuters:

1. Speak up against reckless driving.

2. Patronise reputable and well-maintained transport companies or vehicles.

3. Avoid boarding vehicles driven by drunken drivers.

4. Always fasten your seatbelt, even as a passenger.

5. Motorcyclists should always wear helmets.

6. Stay focused while riding and avoid distractions.

7. Report unsafe driving to relevant authorities.

8. Avoid last-minute trips to reduce rushed decisions and risk.

Similarly, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority Public Relations Officer, Adebayo Taofiq, outlined proactive strategies to ensure seamless traffic flow and safety during the Yuletide season.

“These strategies include stakeholder engagement, community enlightenment campaigns, media sensitisation, and enhanced deployment of officers to manage traffic hotspots. LASTMA has also provided heavy-duty towing vehicles for prompt responses to breakdowns and emergencies”, he stated.

Google has issued a critical security warning to its 2.5 billion Gmail users, cautioning against a surge in holiday season scams.

The tech giant disclosed this in an official blog post on Google’s Product News, emphasizing the need for vigilance as scammers intensify their activities during this period.

In its announcement, Google revealed a sharp rise in email traffic since mid-November, describing the holiday season as a peak period for cybercriminals.

“With more than 2.5 billion users, Gmail is the world’s largest email provider, and we know how important it is to keep inboxes everywhere safe. We invest heavily to meet this responsibility, blocking more than 99.9% of spam, phishing, and malware in Gmail,” the company stated.

Google warned users to remain alert, noting that scammers often adapt their tactics during the holiday season.

“We typically see a second wave of attacks around this time in the holiday season as attackers adjust and try new things,” the blog post stated.

The company identified three common scams currently in circulation:

1. Invoice scams

Fraudsters send fake invoices, prompting victims to call and dispute charges. They use the interaction to extract payments or sensitive information.

2. Celebrity scams

These scams exploit the popularity of celebrities to deceive users. Fraudsters either impersonate famous personalities or falsely claim that a celebrity is endorsing a product or service.

The association with a celebrity builds trust and encourages victims to engage with fraudulent offers, often leading to financial loss or identity theft.

3. Extortion scams

Extortion scams are particularly alarming as they use fear and intimidation to manipulate victims. Scammers send threatening emails containing personal details, such as the victim’s home address or other sensitive information.

These messages often include threats of physical harm or the release of compromising personal data unless a ransom is paid. The inclusion of personal details makes the threats appear credible, pressuring victims into complying with the demands.

How to stay safe 

Google advised users to follow these four key steps to protect themselves:

1. Slow it down– Scammers often create a sense of urgency to push victims into making hasty decisions. Emails may use terms like “urgent,” “immediate action required,” or “account deactivated” to instill panic. Google advises users to pause, assess the situation, and avoid acting impulsively.

2. Spot check

Always verify the authenticity of an email before taking any action. Check the sender’s email address and cross-reference the details provided in the message.

Does the email make sense? Is it consistent with communications you expect from the purported sender? Conducting a quick online search can help confirm if the email is legitimate or part of a known scam.

3. Stop! don’t send

Legitimate organizations or individuals will never demand immediate payments or request sensitive personal information via email. Avoid sharing financial details, passwords, or other private information in response to unsolicited emails.

4. Report it

If you receive a suspicious email, mark it as spam or phishing within your email platform. Reporting such emails not only helps protect your inbox but also contributes to broader efforts to combat scams, benefiting millions of other users.

By following these steps, Gmail users can enhance their defenses against holiday scams and reduce the likelihood of falling victim to cybercriminals.

Google highlighted its advancements in artificial intelligence as a key factor in combating cyber threats.

“This year, we developed several ground-breaking AI models that significantly strengthened Gmail cyber-defenses, including a new large language model (LLM) that we trained on phishing, malware, and spam,” the company explained.

The LLM alone has enhanced Gmail’s defenses by blocking 20% more spam and processing 1,000 times more user-reported spam daily.

Additionally, a new AI model introduced before Black Friday acts as a supervisory layer, evaluating hundreds of threat signals in real time and deploying appropriate protections.