Ghanaian-Nigerian actress Nadia Buari has cautioned her fans to be vigilant online after revealing that multiple variations of her name had already been claimed on WhatsApp's newly introduced username feature, raising concerns about identity impersonation and digital fraud.
The warning comes just days after WhatsApp rolled out its username feature, designed to let users connect with one another without revealing their phone numbers. While the update has been welcomed for improving privacy, Buari's experience has sparked fresh concerns about how quickly scammers may be exploiting the new system.
Sharing her frustration in a post on Instagram, the actress disclosed that she attempted to create a username using her name but discovered that every variation she tried had already been taken.
According to Buari, usernames including "Nadia Buari," "Nadia S Buari," "NSB," and even "theNadiaBuari" were all unavailable, leaving her surprised and worried about the growing activities of online impersonators.
She said the experience highlighted the speed at which fraudsters move to claim identities online, warning that such tactics could easily be used to deceive unsuspecting fans and members of the public.
Urging her followers to remain alert, the actress stressed the importance of verifying online identities and exercising caution when interacting with accounts claiming to represent public figures.
Expressing her concerns, Buari wrote:
“Why are people like this???… I was trying to create this WhatsApp username thing, only to realize every single variation of my name is already gone. Every. Single. One. Nadia Buari…Taken. Nadia S Buari…Taken. NSB….Taken. Even theNadiaBuari—like, seriously?! It’s exhausting and honestly kind of scary.
“At this point, it’s clear fraudsters and imposters are lurking everywhere, ready to snatch up anything just to mislead people. Please, be careful out there and stay vigilant—because if they’re this quick with usernames, imagine what else they’re up to.”