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UTHMAN SALAMI explores how scammers now use the cyberspace as a safe haven, preying on gullible and honest business owners, prospective students, and anybody else who sees it as a practical place, to carry out their operations
Racked with self-blame and the realisation that his lack of due diligence had cost him a staggering N18m in an international scam, Obumneme Maximus, a Lagos-based businessman, kept wondering how many other Nigerians had fallen for the same hoax while hoping that other entrepreneurs would avoid the trap he had fallen into.
Maximus told our correspondent, in a tone tinged with sorrow and self-loathing, about the first time he had let his guard down since launching his private business. When he lost more than $12,740 to an online business named Old Merchants, a phoney auto dealership that purported to be based at 18805 Bayshore Road Villas, New Jersey, USA, he was shocked and shocked.
According to The Guardian Unite Kingdom, amid fights for resources against other criminal objectives, like protecting children and bolstering what is often viewed as inadequate protection of women; international fraud and cybercrime are seen as difficult crimes for law enforcement to solve.
Over 1,000 Nigerians have been duped by schemes offering fictitious international work prospects in the United Kingdom, according to a December 18, 2023, according to a report by The PUNCH that cited the United Nations Migration Agency, the International Organisation for Migration.
The IOM’s Chief of Mission, Laurent De Boeck, made the startling revelation during a press interaction with journalists in Abuja in December 2023.
Boeck emphasised that some victims were left stuck in the UK after losing up to $10,000 apiece in their desperate attempts to land work abroad. Some are too embarrassed to face their families, while others do not have the funds to return home.
He said, “There are some of them who lost over $10,000 only to be given fake employment letters, which allowed them to get visas. They get there, present the letters, and the organisations tell them that the letters did not emanate from the organisations. Over a thousand people are affected.”
These were just a few of the devastating and harrowing experiences Nigerians have faced due to fraud and scams conducted in the international space. Unfortunately, more Nigerians continue to fall victim to organized crime abroad, as these criminals target innocent individuals seeking to conduct business online.
Lagos businessman loses $12,740
In Maximus’s case, he was drawn into the transaction by the lower prices of the vehicles listed on the company’s website, which were far more competitive than any he could find elsewhere. Their business discussions began in October 2023, with Maximus initiating contact after seeing the cars advertised on their site.
He said, “They are selling cars to Ghana and Nigeria online. They have a website they use to defraud people. If you check, the website is very genuine. You won’t even suspect a dime. I saw some cars that I like on their website.
“There are about four vehicles. Their prices are also low. I paid for the vehicles, and they gave me a shipping date. The shipping date arrived after making all the necessary payments. I didn’t know they were professional scammers.
“They are always online. I paid $12,740 for the four cars, including the shipping fee. My transaction with them started in October 2023 and ended in February 2024. Once they give you the shipping date, that will be the end of the business.
“I told my brother in the United States to check on the address on the website, but we discovered that the place is an empty location. The mistake I made was not carrying my brother along. We would have checked on the location to verify their identities.”
In a petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police and International Police, dated March 21, 2024, the victim’s lawyer, Penlit & Greyson, called for an investigation into the scam, urging the authorities to recover the $12,740 he had paid into the company’s account.
The petition read, “We are solicitors to Maximus (hereinafter referred to as our client) and on whose engagement and instruction we write you. Our client informed us that he bought four vehicles from OLD MERCHANTS and fully paid for them, as we are going to attach the invoice detailing the various vehicles and amounts paid respectively for each.
“We were also informed that upon completion of payment, Old Merchants communicated to him that the next available shipment date for GRIMALDI shipping upon completion of US customs clearance is on the 1st day of March 2024 with the vessel Grande Luanda.
“It is also part of our brief that upon the departure of Grande Luanda on 1/03/2024 from Providence Port, Old Merchants has declined to send the Bill of Lading for the shipment and has not established any communication with him on this, despite repeated emails and phone calls being placed to them. The Grande Luanda vessel is now in Dakar Senegal en route to Lagos, and till now no bill of lading has been sent from Old Merchants.
“We were also informed that the contact made with Bridge Water Police Department New Jersey, the division covering where Old Merchants is located, was to reach out to your good office to contact them directly to enable them to immediately commence a thorough investigation on Old Merchants.”
Meanwhile, findings by this correspondent, who visited the Old Merchants website, revealed several cars listed for sale, each with price tags dangling beneath them.
In a conversation with one of the firm’s representatives via the WhatsApp number provided on the company’s website, the individual instructed our correspondent to follow a specific set of guidelines and indicate their payment preferences. They also mentioned that this correspondent would need to specify a payment schedule.
The instructions partly read, “Please note the following important information: Payment Method – We accept payments via bank transfer. To proceed, we will issue an invoice. Invoice Validity: The invoice will be valid for 3 days. If you require additional time to make the payment, you have the option to make a 10 per cent deposit and settle the remaining amount within 10 days.
“Reservation Policy: Please be aware that no cars are reserved until the deposit or full payment is received. Estimated Shipping Schedules (if paid this week): Port of Providence, RI-Tin Can, Lagos, Nigeria: Customs clearance (two-three weeks); approximate release date: May 20; closest departure: Grande Tema GTE0424 on May 30th; estimated arrival in Tin Can, Lagos: June 14, 2024; please provide us with your payment schedule preferences and your details for the invoice (name, shipping address, email, phone) and we will issue an invoice.”
When this correspondent sought more information about the company’s activities, the firm replied, “Please provide us with your payment schedule preferences and your details for the invoice (name, shipping address, email, and phone number), and we will issue an invoice.
“We are a registered American business; we use only reliable bank transactions, no shady payment options, and we provide you with all the necessary documents, such as an invoice, payment receipt, and bill of lading (which will allow you to track your purchase). Shipments are insured.”
When inquired about the status of Maximus’s ordered vehicles and their failure to deliver as promised before the payment, the company blocked this correspondent on WhatsApp and subsequently deleted all the conversations.
Maximus’s story is just one of many distressing experiences that Nigerians have faced with international fraud.
Student loses N3.6m
Even more shocking is the troubling experience of Confidence Chujor, a young Nigerian who hoped to travel to Canada to complete her studies after finishing her first degree. Her long-held plans were thwarted by a scam perpetrated by a fellow Canada-Nigerian man.
Chujor, who had secured admission to a university in Canada, needed to exchange Canadian dollars during a severe foreign exchange crisis in the country. In her urgent bid to meet the deadline, a friend referred her to a Canadian-based Nigerian named Ajibola.
He assured Chujor that the money would be transferred within five working days, but those five days stretched into three months with no proof of payment.
After much back and forth, both parties agreed that Ajibola would assist Chujor in exchanging N3.6 million, which was paid into his account.
Ajibola was said to have collected the money from Chujor under the pretence of paying her tuition fees directly to a Canadian school.
While expressing her sorrow to this correspondent, Chujor revealed that despite her efforts to involve Ajibola’s Nigerian family in securing a refund, the suspect’s failure to pay her school fees as agreed went unaddressed. This has led to ongoing delays in her admission and travel plans.
“I initiated Form A in February 2024 to enable me to pay my fees. When I saw that there was no headway with that, I decided to defer my admission. Then a friend of mine known as Victor advised that instead of sending the fee to a random person in Canada, I should send it to his close friend, who is almost like his brother in Canada.
“On July 6, 2023, I transferred N3.6m to Ajibola, and he confirmed the payment the same day.
“When the transfer was done to him, the dollar rate was N552. He told us he would convert the money to dollars at the rate of N452, that his wife’s brother works in a Canadian bank, and that he would do it for him at the rate of N452.
“I became super excited. From that day till now, he has been turning me around despite my sending him all the necessary details to enable him to pay seamlessly.
“It got to a point where he said the fees had been paid. I was so excited. But then I requested a screenshot of the transaction. He kept saying he would send it. But he never did till date.”
All her attempts to seek support from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to have Ajibola arrested and obtain a refund, including multiple messages and calls to the Director General, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, were unsuccessful.
When this correspondent contacted Ajibola’s mobile phone number, he did not respond, even though the message was marked as delivered and read four days later.
When our correspondent followed up on the refund on September 13, 2024, over a year and two months later, Chujor lamented that Ajibola had still not returned her money after seven months.
“To date, I haven’t gotten back my money,” she simply stated.
U.S-based Nigerian laments
While Chujor’s lament was centred on her thwarted desire to study abroad, Mike, a Nigerian based in the U.S., was allegedly extorted and threatened by another Nigerian living in the country.
A Nigerian man named Ariyibi, who had established an online dating platform primarily targeting individuals living abroad, faced accusations of collecting money from them without providing any matches.
Although Ariyibi denied any accusation of foul play from Mike or any other person during a telephone conversation and WhatsApp chat with this correspondent, Mike described him as “an extortionist.”
Mike recounted, “This guy will extort money from you based on my experience with him. I had to remove myself from his platform. I paid N100,000 as a membership fee. I was in the group for a while. After joining, he would message me that he needed money to finish certain projects. After collecting money from you, he talks like a lout.
“He asked me for another again, but when I refused, he started cursing me. He would send audio notes and text messages cursing and talking like a tout just in a shameful and distasteful manner because I refused to give him more money because he wanted to match me with a girl to date.
“He locks up the platform so that people will not be able to communicate. He sends pictures of ladies to the platform. When you pick one, he will tell you that they are not available or that they don’t like you. This is his tactic of extorting people abroad and at home.
“He told me to go and die and that nothing would happen to him. He told me my money was gone and that nothing would happen. He sent me his pictures and names, telling me I should report him anywhere. He is an extortionist.”
Despite blocking him on all platforms, Mike lamented that Ariyibi used a private number to send one final message, which included curses and harassment. A screenshot of this message was provided to this correspondent.
The message partly read, “This will be my last message to you; you might not know, but you act like you are under a spell. You might need to let your people know about things to find a solution. You can’t continue like this.”
After insulting and threatening this correspondent with a lawsuit, Ariyibi denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he had made an effort to match Mike with a suitable partner but was ultimately unsuccessful.
Ariyibi then provided screenshots of conversations with several other women, which he claimed showed successful matches with male partners, most of whom were believed to be overseas. However, he pointed out that Mike’s case was an exception.
He said, “Make I find more ladies in America always turning me down, boss… Bro, I’m not saying you shouldn’t do Mike’s work, he will get you in trouble. Bro, take your time and listen to everything. Then do your job ruggedly. I have nothing to fear about at all. Nothing dey shake me. But help me tell Mike this. E no go better for am for trying to spoil my platform with the spell on his head.
“I’ve cleared up everything you need to know from my side. Now let the work begin. As for Mike, I do not owe him any apology, as any time I set my eyes on him, ‘I go deck am blow.’ You sha see screenshots as ladies dey always turn me down because of him.”
Nigerian entrepreneurs lose $19,350
As Mike came to terms with what he described as extortion and harassment by a fellow Nigerian, young Nigerian 2D graphics animator and cartoon designer Adeleke Samuel turned to the microblogging site X.com, under the handle @SegszDaEngine, to seek GoFundMe support.
He and others had fallen victim to a fraudulent scheme that resulted in the loss of their seed capital.
Samuel, along with Ajibola Fuwad Disu and Oluwaseun Oluwapelumi John, co-founded Astrotwig and sought investors to complete their business projects. They were approached by Simon Tiwari, who offered them a $1 million loan to be repaid over five years.
He wrote, “On February 10, 2024, I found myself ensnared in a deceitful scheme orchestrated by an individual posing as an angel investor, Mr. Simon Tiwari. He purportedly offered us a loan of $1 million, to be repaid over five years.
“The sequence of events leading to this unfortunate incident began with our company’s participation in MIDEM, the prestigious global music conference in France. Despite our endeavours to secure funding and partnerships, our efforts were unsuccessful.
“Following the event, I took to Twitter (now X.com) to appeal for financial support, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, for our pre-seed stage. It was during this outreach that a contact named Max (+234 814 800 8601) provided a lead, urging me to explore potential funding opportunities.
“Subsequently, I made contact with Mr Simon Tiwari (+44 7537 135782), who claimed to have also attended MIDEM. After submitting the requisite due diligence documents, Mr Tiwari expressed interest in providing the loan, albeit for a larger sum than initially sought.
“Several days later, Mr Tiwari confirmed their willingness to proceed with the loan after reviewing our documents. Excited by the prospect of funding, I shared the news with our software developers, anticipating imminent financial support.”
However, the would-be scammer instructed them that the transaction had to be conducted via blockchain, specifically using Bitcoin, and expressed concerns about traditional payment methods.
Having agreed to Tiwari’s demands, the company members requested $20,000 in Bitcoin as equity before they could access the $1 million loan as arranged.
“In a concerted effort to meet this requirement, my co-founder Fuwad Ajibola Disu mobilized support from his network, securing the necessary funds for collateral. The funds were transferred to a newly created blockchain wallet to provide proof to Mr Tiwari.
“Upon Mr Tiwari’s insistence, the funds were moved to a Mycelium wallet, purportedly the preferred platform for investments. Subsequently, a test transaction of $19 in BTC was initiated as per Mr. Tiwari’s instructions. He sent a QR code to scan for the address.
“Regrettably, the transaction incurred an unexpected deduction of $19,350 instead of the intended amount, signalling the deception behind the transaction and resulting in a substantial loss for Astrotwig.”
NiDCOM, EFCC keep mum
In a bid to find out if the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has any mechanisms to assist Nigerians, especially students, who are scammed by other Nigerians or foreigners abroad, our correspondent contacted the Commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
However, Balogun directed our correspondent to consult with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission regarding the issue.
“It’s an assignment for the EFCC, not ours,” Balogun simply stated in response to this correspondent inquiry on September 13, 2024.
Similarly, when this correspondent contacted the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale, on the same date, the message was marked as read but went unanswered.
As more innocent Nigerians lose millions of naira to foreign cyber fraud schemes and others see their aspirations dashed online, keen observers hope that victims will receive compensation so they can rebuild their lives.
