Ghanaian-Nigerian actress Nadia Buari has cautioned her followers to stay alert against online impersonators after encountering difficulties while trying to create a username on WhatsApp.
Her warning comes shortly after WhatsApp introduced its new username feature, designed to allow users connect with one another without revealing their phone numbers.
Sharing her experience on Instagram, Buari said she was unable to register any version of her name because they had already been taken. According to the actress, usernames such as “Nadia Buari,” “Nadia S Buari,” “NSB,” and even “theNadiaBuari” were all unavailable.
She described the experience as both frustrating and worrying, saying it highlighted how quickly fraudsters move to exploit new digital features.
Buari expressed concern that individuals intent on misleading others could easily claim identities online, making it more difficult for genuine users to secure usernames associated with their names.
She urged her followers to remain vigilant, warning that the rapid takeover of recognizable usernames reflects the broader threat of online impersonation and scams.
In her Instagram post, the actress questioned why people would rush to claim identities that do not belong to them, adding that the situation was “exhausting” and “kind of scary.”
She also advised the public to exercise caution online, noting that if impersonators are quick to secure usernames, they could also be exploiting other opportunities to deceive unsuspecting users.
WhatsApp recently launched the username feature as part of efforts to improve user privacy by enabling people to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. The update, however, has also sparked conversations around identity protection and the potential misuse of public figures’ names on the platform.
