Investigation of Consumer Awareness of Cybersecurity Risks in Online Shopping in Onitsha, Anambra State

Online shopping adoption among consumers in commercial hubs like Onitsha creates data security and financial fraud risks that require consumer awareness to be adequately managed, and documenting current awareness levels in this South East commercial centre is important for protection policy. This study investigated consumer cybersecurity awareness when shopping online among residents in Onitsha North and South Local Government Areas, Anambra State, South East Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 240 adults who reported regular online purchasing activity. The questionnaire assessed knowledge of secure transaction indicators, awareness of phishing in fake shopping sites, willingness to share financial information, experience of online shopping fraud, and use of secure payment methods. Results showed that 73.3 percent could identify HTTPS padlock as a trust indicator, but only 38.3 percent could distinguish legitimate from phishing shopping sites. Experience of online shopping fraud was reported by 31.3 percent of respondents. Debit card details had been entered on sites with no SSL by 44.2 percent. Only 27.5 percent used virtual debit cards or wallets rather than direct card entry. Consumer Protection Council awareness was held by only 19.6 percent. The study recommends a FCCPC online shopping consumer safety guide, mandatory secure payment training for Onitsha market association digital commerce members, and NITDA enforcement of minimum security standards for Nigerian online shopping platforms.

Keywords: online shopping security, consumer awareness, Onitsha, Anambra State, e-commerce fraud