N160M Theft: VDM's Claim is Technically Possible

• VDM's claim of N160m funds diversion from his NGO's website is technically possible
• Cybercrime is real and increasing daily, with new tactics invented.
• Businesses, organizations must hire trusted, qualified developers to manage their technologies to avoid these kinds of fate.

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Many websites now integrate automated payment systems that enable them to receive payments, make payments, and keep transaction records automatically.

For example, Jumia customers can make payments for their purchased products directly on the website using their card details or other payment methods.

Additionally, most social media platforms, such as X (formerly Twitter), automatically make monthly payments to their eligible creators' bank accounts. Therefore, the claim by Very Dark Man (VDM) about his NGO's website being hacked and funds, exceeding N160 million, being diverted is technically possible.

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VDM's narrative might be true if the following conditions are met regarding the said website:

Payment Integration:

Modern websites and apps rely on payment processing platforms to receive and make payments through their websites. Platforms such as Flutterwave, Stripe, Paystack, and PayPal are popular in Nigeria for online payment processing.

Automated Payment Integration:

This is where the likelihood of VDM's claim being true increases significantly. When payments are automated on a website, it means certain account numbers are designated to receive automatic payments from the website whenever specific conditions are fulfilled, with or without human intervention.

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For instance, websites can automate monthly salary payments or recurrent bill payments. The system authenticates the payment conditions and then establishes communication with the NGO's bank API to initiate the payment. Upon receiving the request, the payment processing platform, some of which also hold full banking licenses, such as OPAY and MONIEPOINT, authorizes the payment, and the funds are credited to the preset account details. The bank will record transaction timestamps, and the website will also record them depending on its underlying programming logic.

Some professional web developers, like Pafbig Technologies, ensure that the underlying programming of the payment feature includes a notification system that alerts the owner a few minutes before the payment is processed to prevent last-minute compromises.

When the System is Hacked:

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If the server that stores the preset payment conditions is compromised, the hacker gains full access and can immediately alter payment parameters, redirecting funds to their specified recipients under criminal circumstances.

Therefore, if VDM's NGO had these payment features integrated into its website, his claims are highly plausible.