‘I’m In Love With A Nigerian Internet Fraudster’

Is it possible for an European lady to still remain in love with a Nigerian internet fraudster after finding out his true status?

Can the assertion of love being blind play out in this case under review? These are indeed questions better answered after a rundown through the story:

Like many women who become the victims of romance scammers operating overseas, Sammie, 41, was going through a challenging time when she met a man who said he was a 45-year-old civil engineer called Rob.

He contacted her out of the blue via Instagram just as she was getting divorced. As the weeks passed, they began to grow closer.

After a while he told her how his sick father needed money for an operation, that his bank accounts had been frozen and that he needed help. Sammie sent him several thousand pounds and also bought Bitcoin for him — effectively laundering cash he sent her — only to discover the pictures he was using were all stolen and the identity a fabrication.

READ ALSO: 13 Best Emotional Happy New Month Messages For Loved Ones

She eventually discovered that ‘Rob’ was a 20-year-old scammer from Nigeria. And, once she knew, she still wanted to talk to this young man who had captured her heart.

He told her his real name was Smith, and they both cried over the phone, with Sammie describing him as ‘remorseful’. He set up a new account using his own photograph and they carried on messaging.

I’m In Love With A Nigerian Internet Fraudster 2

He told her he had used the money she had given him to get out of Nigeria and that he was now living in Cyprus, where he wanted to start college. He said he had fallen for her and couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her.

Smith told her that, aside from the lies about the circumstances, when he talked to her as Rob, it was how he always felt as himself. She said: ‘It was like having him back.’

After a few months, he started to ask her for money again. Sammie was angry and the relationship cooled, but a couple of weeks later he messaged her through Snapchat with a love heart — and she messaged straight back.

He didn’t open the message and hasn’t been in touch with her since.

READ ALSO:  These Yoga Indoor Exercises Helping Many To Save Their Jobs, Marriages

I asked her: ‘If he messaged you today would you forgive him?’ She looked down, gave a small smile and said: ‘I dunno.’ Then she started crying and it was horrible to see.

Even when she knew who he was and what he did, she was still prepared to entertain the fact it was a relationship.

It’s hard to know if Smith was part of an organised gang of scammers, but it seems likely.

While South East Asia is responsible for the most romance scams, Nigeria is the second most common place of origin.

I’m In Love With A Nigerian Internet Fraudster 3

In Nigeria, I’ve heard anecdotally that the scammers term the practice ‘hunting for an old white’, while in South East Asia, they’re known as ‘pig-butchering scams’ because the fraudsters think of it like fattening up an animal before you slaughter it.

Pig-butchering scams are a cross between romance fraud and crypto currency fraud and are often highly technologically advanced.

READ ALSO: Mother Of Two Sets Of Lovely Twins Makes Worst Mistake

The best way to protect yourself is to be aware of the scripts and tricks fraudsters use to reel in victims.

Many scammers seem to use a name comprised of two first names — for example, Mark Patrick, John William, Stephen Thomas — perhaps because they aren’t familiar with Western surnames.

Then there is a fairly common list of stories a scammer will hit you with, including:

– He is a widow and lost his wife in a car crash or to cancer.

– His wife cheated and left him.

– He has a child who is currently at boarding school.

– He has a family member who needs an operation.

– He is extremely religious and ‘God-fearing’.

– He is a soldier, medical professional or oil-rig worker.

As soon as you reply, he is likely to ask, ‘Are you married with kids?’ and he will express romantic feelings, even love, extremely quickly.

You’ll be the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, the sort of woman he could really have a special connection with and so on.

Next he’ll want to get you off the platform he contacted you on and onto a messaging app such as WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Skype or Google Chat as soon as possible.

I’m In Love With A Nigerian Internet Fraudster 4

The reason is simple — they can’t be kicked off these in the same way they can a dating site, Twitter or Instagram. Plus, now they have your email address and phone number.

Eventually, inevitably, you will be spun a story and asked for money, probably via gift cards (you’ll be asked to buy them, then scratch off the panel and send the code directly).

READ ALSO: Police May Start Arresting Youths Over ‘No Gree For Anybody’ Slogan

So far I’ve been asked for Amazon gift cards, iTunes vouchers, Google Play vouchers and Steam cards, which are used to buy video games but can be sold on.

But perhaps the best way to protect yourself is to acknowledge that, yes, it could happen to you. I believe that we all underestimate our susceptibility to fraud.

The women I spoke to weren’t all naive or gullible; many were smart and switched on. Don’t let your confidence be your downfall. Life is never a romcom — and if it seems as though someone online is offering you a happily ever after, be suspicious.

-To be continued

Adapted from dailymailonline published as Keanu Reeves Is Not In Love With You by Becky Holmes (Unbound, £12.99). © Becky Holmes 2024.