By Bilesanmi Abayomi
A renowned Nigerian Afrobeat singer-songwriter, rapper, and musician, Mr. Xclusive, has fallen victim to a phone number hacking incident, with fraudsters attempting to extort money from his contacts. The artist, known for his hit tracks such as “Orimi,” raised the alarm on Wednesday, urging the public to disregard any messages soliciting funds from his name.
The fraudulent activity came to light when the fraudsters contacted a media outlet, Kosofe Post, using an unfamiliar phone number, claiming to be Mr. Xclusive. The individual behind the scam identified themselves as the artist and requested a transfer of ₦5,000 to address purported financial difficulties with their bank account. They provided a bank account number belonging to their girlfriend, Divine Benjamin, at Zenith Bank, instructing the recipient to notify them once the transaction was made.
Taking swift action, KP (Kosofe Post) immediately reached out to Mr. Xclusive to verify the authenticity of the claims. The singer confirmed that his phone number had indeed been cloned, enabling the fraudsters to send text messages to unsuspecting individuals, urging them to deposit money into the specified bank account.
“I’m still finding a way to arrest that man,” Mr. Xclusive expressed, determined to bring the perpetrator to justice. “I created a group, and I don’t know how he gained access to it. He cloned an account using an MTN line, which I have never used in my life. I only have GLO and Airtel lines. He contacts my followers, stating that one of his brothers is in need of help, asking for ₦5,000 or a similar amount. Any chat related to this should be ignored.”
As investigations continue, Mr. Xclusive emphasized that he uses two WhatsApp numbers exclusively, neither of which is associated with an MTN line. He remains committed to tracking down the fraudster directly and putting an end to this criminal activity.
“I must use this opportunity to appeal to all citizens and those who have received text messages purportedly being sent in my name,” Mr. Xclusive stated. “Apparently, my phone has been cloned by some internet fraudsters who have sent messages to my contacts, asking them to deposit money into a bank account. Please ignore any chat requesting money.”
