The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said many Nigerians ignored its repeated warnings about digital trading platforms like CBEX.

Speaking on Channels Television, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale explained that the Commission had made efforts to educate the public on the risks of such platforms long before the recent crash.

CBEX, an online trading company with links to China, reportedly collapsed on Monday, locking investors out of their funds and resulting in an estimated N1.3 trillion loss. Videos have since circulated showing victims expressing frustration and heartbreak over their lost savings.

Oyewale stressed that the EFCC had previously published a list of 58 suspicious investment companies, warning citizens to steer clear. He said this was part of their effort to prevent scams and protect the public.

He emphasized that CBEX never had any real, registered presence in Nigeria, despite claims of physical offices in places like Ibadan. He also noted that the company operated entirely online and lacked any legal ties to Nigeria.

According to Oyewale, the Commission had done its part by creating awareness and alerting Nigerians to the risks. “The rest is for people to be cautious and protect their money,” he said.

He also pointed to the newly introduced Investment and Securities Act 2025, which now makes it a criminal offense to engage in digital trading without proper licenses and compliance with Nigerian law.