No doubt this is not the best generation for people who trust easily and for anyone that is with a good heart.
Fraudsters, usually the ones scamming on the internet most of the time preys on not just the gullibility of their victims, but on the seeming good heart on the part of the latter too. Those who take others for what they say, hence believe them.
Recently however, one Mr Gasali Peters had contracted someone to help him get a security dog for himself.
The person he knew in turn gave him the phone number of someone who sells same and then a WhatsApp conversation ensued.
Meanwhile after series of WhatsApp conversation and as well an exchange of the pictoral and video coverage of the dogs to be sold in question, their discussion got to sale amount and bargaining.
It was agreed for 70,000 naira and Mr Peter insisted that it should be delivered while he makes his payment on delivery.
But after much convincing on the part of the seller, Mr Peters made a transfer of 30,000 naira twice to the seller’s account expecting his dog to be delivered to him in no time while he pays the balance upon delivery.
The dog seller in turn sent him a phone number belonging to one fictitious driver who not only refused picking mr Peter’s calls at some point, but blocked him afterwards.
Below are few of their conversations on WhatsApp.
Incidences like this one and many more seems to be on the rise lately. A would-be fraudster opens up an usually Instagram account and pretends to sell very catchy wares. They then insist on payment before delivery, and as soon as the payment is made, they block their victims on all social media platforms and then move on to the next victim or deactivates the Instagram account in question, only to activate a fresh one.
In as much as there are ways to retrieve funds like this as long as it is made to a bank account with a name, it is a little bit of a process quite rigorous for an average Nigerian to go through.
It actually involves going to the anti-crime unit of each commercial Bank to Lodge a complaint and then series of follow up is needed.
Don’t get scammed via payment before delivery, Google names of companies before doing business with them, endeavour to save phone numbers of scammers on true caller lists, then we should also begin to call out scammers by placing their details online just so others will not fall into similar pits.
Happy holidays.
Born as Titilayo Oladimeji, I have been known by the nickname Titipetral for nearly two decades. I am a Financial Advisor at a reputable financial institution in Lagos, Nigeria, with over 10 years of experience in Financial Advisory and Credit Analysis. I am also an author and the founder of Titipetral Publishers, a duly registered publishing company.
In addition, I lead the Titipetral Empowerment and Development Network (TEDN), a duly registered philanthropic initiative dedicated to supporting underprivileged girls, boys, women, and men in the Alimosho area, Nigeria’s most populated local government, focusing on serving the underserved.
For inquiries or collaboration, you can reach me at Titilayooladimeji@titipetral.com or titipetral@gmail.com.