Over the years, Nigerians have been labeled as serial fraudsters and internet criminals. Particularly in recent times, news of Nigerians involving in cybercrime appear often time on foreign media.
Due to the widely familiar impression people in the overseas have about Nigerians, a larger number of other Nigerians are being affected.
The cyber fraud plague has resulted to meaningful Nigerians who engage in legitimate business, lose jobs, contract, amongst other things.
Their potential client or contractor as the case may be doesn’t trust them. With what the media publish about Nigerians, they believe already that Nigeria is a hub for cyber criminals, thus, her nationals can’t be trusted.
In order to combat this societal menace on a global scale, and protect people from being a cyber fraud victim, Ebenezer Allen, a United States-based Nigerian, floated Profile Intelligence LLC, an initiative launched to guard people from email scam, amongst other cyber fraud.
Allen is a licensed private investigator in the US. He is also a certified fraud examiner, and a cyber security enthusiast.
In this interview, Allen discussed in details what spurred his interest in combating identity theft in the cyber space, and how he’s changing cyber fraud narrative Nigerians are plagued with.
Excerpt
How best can you describe your brand and what you represent?
I live constantly abreast with prevailing technology and best practices in my business area by investing in strategic relationships and continuous improvement which are sources of intelligence with which I help my clients who are mostly executives to detect, mitigate, escalate or transfer cyber risk.
What spurred your interest in establishing a firm that tends to correct a societal ill of such among Nigerians at the global space?
I saw the problem C-suite executives and board members of organizations are confronted with daily in this cyber era, and my team of intelligence analysts some of which are former law enforcements carried out a research.
We partnered with a University to get this done and the result was that these set of people need “Private Virtual Bodyguards”.
Executive digital protection is vital in this era. You know, now, we have terms like Cyber war, and some are already instituting a cause called “cyber peace”. Nations will no longer be sending humans to the battle ground anymore. Nations will begin to use cyber to gauge strength.
Data breaches are now being used to embarrass organizations and competition. Its reputational damage is costly to all hat these companies represent. And therefore, we can’t afford to be myopic in our approach nor pretend that the risk does not exist. So many Executives are being blackmailed day in day out. Some of these victims are innocent.
Some may have made a mistake quite alright but there are some who just do not want to be on the raider for negative news and hence, they pay the price for their peace of mind. But not anymore. Our solution is a tested and customized to fit the exact cyber security and privacy need of our clients. This is what spurred my interest to establish Profile Intelligence LLC.
How long have you been running this?
My overall experience in the intelligence space which encompasses financial compliance as well as cyber security and investigations is about 5 years.
How far do you think you have come since you floated your idea?
At first, it’s like – Look at this Nigerian telling us how to combat cybercrime and enforce digital executive protection. However, I was able to use the damaging admission to strengthen credibility by letting them know that since I am Nigerian, that means I have “Native Intelligence” of how these things are done in the negative and so who else can be better qualified to protect you from it? Furthermore, I have been trained here.
After my MBA, I studied Private Investigations at The University of North Texas and I am a licensed Private Investigator, Certified Fraud Examiner amongst other things. I also took a course in Exercising Continuity Plans in Cyber Incidents with FEMA which in an agency under the department of homeland security. So, being a part of the system in this way, also gives credibility. Its been good so far. We have high net worth clients across board.
Tell us why Nigerians are not trusted in the cyber space?
Well, there is a reputation issue. No doubt. I remember having a job interview and for over 30mins, the Interviewer kept asking me about Nigeria Email scam and all. I get it. There is a reputation in this regard. But there are also areas where we have good reputation. We need to be intentional in putting the good narratives out there. I wish there can be a compilation made public of outstanding Nigerians who have contributed to this economy. People will be shocked at how much impact Nigerians are making here. We need the right narratives and I am playing my part in changing that narrative.
How are you changing this narrative?
Several Nigerians are doing well in the medical field, engineering, financial compliance etc. I have simply joined these great Nigerians by engaging in a noble cause that Americans are benefiting from. Most of our clients are Americans. We also have clients in Nigeria and other African countries. We have helped many respond to data breach incidents and ensure that their privacy is protected.
Can you kindly tell us your educational background and early life?
I was born In Owo, Ondo state. We later moved to Bauchi and then to Port Harcourt, and finally Lagos. So, I have lived in the 4 of the 5 geo political zones of Nigeria. My parents taught my brothers and I virtues of diligence and integrity and that has formed the bedrock of my success today. I had my bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Port Harcourt and then Lincoln University in California for my MBA. I also did some study in Human Resource Studies at Cornell University, New York.
What is your opinion about the perception of fraud created about Nigerians?
Again, for a Nigerian indicted for fraud, there are 99 Nigerians who are doing well and upholding the pride of our Nation. We are generally smart and intelligent people. There are many Nigerians in the United States. To me, this is a people problem and it’s not a Nigerian problem. If any other country has as many Nigerians there are in the US, they will also be likely to have a reputation for some vice.
Do you think this can be corrected, and how?
For me, let’s continue to be positive minded about our Nation and her people. Change takes time. I believe Nigeria and Nigerians across the world will continue to be a symbol of light. A new generation is rising, and we shall sing a new song.
Can you tell us how you have been saving millions of people with your company?
To protect against Identity theft, we help people delete their personal information from the internet. Online removals in a key step in combating cybercrime. A compromised identity is a destroyer of destiny.
Many here, who are victims have been messed up big time. We also provide our clients with a fully encrypted and secured mobile device. We have an operating system (OS) installed in the Android phone that even makes your location to be invisible and encrypts your messages and calls. Privacy is a right and should be enforced. Our practice areas are: Due Diligence, Investigations, Cyber and Intelligence. Our most successful practice has been the Executive digital protection so far.