BBC News: Letter from Africa: Why Nigeria's internet scammers are 'role models'

[Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju]

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From: Otito Koro toda...@sbcglobal.net [NaijaPolitics] <NaijaP...@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2019 at 23:53
Subject: [NaijaPolitics] BBC News: Letter from Africa: Why Nigeria's internet scammers are 'role models'
To: <NaijaP...@yahoogroups.com>, <NIgerianW...@yahoogroups.com>

 

I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it:

Letter from Africa: Why Nigeria's internet scammers are 'role models' - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-49759392

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[Michael Price]

I believe these Nigerian scammers have a relentless amount of talent and are outstanding businessmen/ marketers. Unfortunately they are using their gifts in a negative way by stealing and lying rather than an honest business. Instead of indicting these hidden gems the government should find ways to give these Nigerians jobs so they can learn how to run a legit business and support themselves/ their families in a positive manner. If they have the talent to make millions illegally I don't see why they can't legally. I believe if these young criminals had positive role models/ lived in better environments they could have a positive impact on society and be legitimate entrepreneurs.

[Jesse Zhang]

It is quite sad to see that scamming has become so lucrative. As long as there is money in the business, there will be people there. The issue as I understood it is a lack of opportunity. If young Nigerians had role models in other industries, I think a lot less people would be interested in scamming. They could easily dominate advertising or social media managers with their extensive knowledge of these platforms and the human psyche. There is definitely potential.

[Dylan Herd]

I do agree that these people have immense talents but put in the wrong way. This honestly can make Nigeria look worse than it is when people are praising scammers like this. These people should be put towards better roles in the country with perhaps marketing or other types of sales which may help Nigeria's infrastructure. 

On Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 10:53:24 AM UTC-5, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju wrote:

[Dylan Herd]

I agree that these people do have talents in things such as marketing but they are using it in the complete wrong way. These people not only use their skills in the wrong way, they make their country look worse because of it. Because the public sees these people as role models, the country may be looked at as supporting criminals. Instead these skills should be put to the benefit of the country such as to increase jobs and financial intake in the government which would increase infrastructure. 

On Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 10:53:24 AM UTC-5, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju wrote:

[Alexandra V Rodrigues]

This article, by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, addresses a consequence of lack of economic independence or prosperity in Nigeria which has drawn more people to participate in the lucrative industry that is online fraud.  The people turning to this "employment" are increasingly educated individuals who due to an insufficient job market, are creating their own.  This could be fixed if other countries such as the US opened up more opportunities for Nigerian students to come pursue further education and/or employment.  Even if these people were on a time-restricted Visa, they would at least be able to acquire some job experience/education in the US which could make them a valuable candidate for a job in other parts of the world.  It is imperative that in the meantime these individuals continue to be publicly shamed by FBI lists and media since that seems to be effective in the Nigerian culture where this type of criminal behavior brings great shame to families. 

-- 

Alexandra Rodrigues 

[Kalif McKinley]

This article on scammers gives insight as to what is happening within Nigerian culture and the psyche of the people who are starting to participate in scamming. The lack of jobs and overall state of the Nigerian economy makes it appealing to the youth to take up scamming as a profession. It seems as though even if you get your education and degree it is still hard to find a job to support yourself and family within Nigerian society. I feel as though the youth will always look up to the scammers because that is the only type of success that is attainable in their point of view. I could see how it is appealing to want to start scamming because it is a fast and easy way to make money. The popular scamming figures standing next to government officials make it seem as though that is an acceptable career within Nigerian culture.

On Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 10:53:24 AM UTC-5, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju wrote:

[Gabriel Galaviz]

The article is about a set of talents that are being used in the wrong way. It would be helpful to educate them to allow them to use their skills and either help their country prosper or make true money with a real job. Seeing Nigerians glorify these scammers are wrong and make Nigeria look bad. In the end this adds to the long list of reasons why Americans do not want to travel to Africa.

On Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 10:53:24 AM UTC-5, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju wrote:

[Keaontay Ingram]

I personally know not to send a random person any information online but to be notified how easily and simple to fraud people is scary. In this article how it said you can literally sit at home and fraud and steal money from your house in your pj's. I personally think this needs to be controlled some way some how. People have to much control and power through the internet. The internet needs to be mange and have professionals to observe the internet for he safety of peoples personal business. It is way to easy to fraud people and there has to be an end to this situation.

On Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 10:53:24 AM UTC-5, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju wrote:

[Mitchell Stolle]

This article discusses how some Nigerians become scammer due to circumstance. There was a large increase in scammers once computers became more of a household commodity. The author muses over what could have happened with these Nigerians and their natural talents if they had better role models growing up. Some of the Nigerians with these talents who are able come to the United States to seek legal opportunities with their entrepreneurship.

[Ban-Jian Pan]

This really opened my eyes to see how these scams essentially funnel into each other. They are incentivized by other scammer by just seeing a scammer's riches and their flamboyant lifestyle. Nevertheless this doesn't mean that the scammers are not talented people, they are incredibly talented and have a lot of potential in life but sometimes in life it can be hard to start somewhere. And because of this initial hurdle that a lot of people have to jump over they are then sucked into this scam cycle. I believe that the government should have more programs to open up more opportunities for people and show that there is another way of creating a business the legitimate way.

On Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 10:53:24 AM UTC-5, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju wrote:

[Ban-Jian Pan]

This really opened my eyes to see how these scams essentially funnel into each other. They are incentivized by other scammer by just seeing a scammer's riches and their flamboyant lifestyle. Nevertheless this doesn't mean that the scammers are not talented people, they are incredibly talented and have a lot of potential in life but sometimes in life it can be hard to start somewhere. And because of this initial hurdle that a lot of people have to jump over they are then sucked into this scam cycle. I believe that the government should have more programs to open up more opportunities for people and show that there is another way of creating a business the legitimate way.

On Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 10:53:24 AM UTC-5, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju wrote:

[John Samuel Burleson]

The idea that internet scammers are viewed as role models is not a new idea, especially in western society. The idea of being able to hack into a system, make money, and do this from the comfort of your own home is something that the youth has always found intriguing. I think this is due to the perception of the crime not being very severe, which is something that government officials and the law can change. Making the punishment for these crimes more severe, I believe, would deter people from attempting this type of crime. As technology changes, the laws need to keep up. These scammers are smart, but in no shape or form should they be viewed as role models. In fact, there is no difference between them and the common thief of the street.

n Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 10:53:24 AM UTC-5, Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju wrote:

[Rachel Black]

It's saddening to see that such a multitude of money hungry individuals stoop down and lower their integrity and moral standards to make a living. I do understand the frustration of the current economy and lack of lucrative jobs, but propelling yourself at the expense of another's misfortune is cruel and a disgrace. Not to mention using these fraudulent phishing funds or Yahoo Yahoo frauds to ascend into a higher level of social and political status, is a mock to all hard working genuine individuals who deserve their position in society. Following the 419 scammers, the quantity and skills of scammers have only increased and evolved. They can mask their identity in many ways, continuing to rob the pockets of innocent people. This unfortunate predicament Nigerian citizens have to hear about is an embarrassment and disgrace to their country. Any career or occupation that benefits and lives a lavish life at the expense of thieving from innocent people is a shame to man kind and their own self. 

[Cornelius Hamelberg]

Dear Everybody,

You've got to give it to them when it comes to both their creativity and their resourcefulness, such as in this instance : 

https://www.thepledge.ng/nigerian-man-hacked-us-govt-site-gave-family-friends-permanent-citizenship/?fbclid=IwAR3R85iWChkbXPCyEX1oGoPZgq72UKL_wTJDxCoWpN3k4ZQ_0vTNAARdPgQ

[Cornelius Hamelberg]

Dear Everybody,

Please Forgive me. It was fake news sent to me by a South African, that “Nigerian Man Hacked US Govt Site, Gave Family, Friends Permanent Citizenship”   - as the links reveal.

On my part I was full of unadulterated admiration for the alleged hacker, thought he must have perfected some of the forbidden magic which quite a few Nigerians are interested in( such as the so called “ 6^th and 7^th Books of Moses) but that he ( the hacker)  could maybe be put to better use by the Naija intelligence services or better still by some investigative journalists who want to pry into the secrets of Aso Rock, check out some people’s bank accounts, medical files, girl friends on the sly, extra marital affairs, money laundering, support for terrorism…

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie alerted the unalerted about The danger of the single story and likewise  we had better take heed that we do not swallow everything – every unsubstantiated story that some malicious, politically motivated  unscrupulous and unethical opinionmakers/ so called journalists  compose, hook, line, and sinker….

As for the story tellers, some of them can’t distinguish between fact and fiction, but they can usually distinguish between real money and fake/ counterfeit money.

Even the Christian scriptures according to John, says “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

 So too, real journalists should practice some discernment , and so should we the readers, not believe every spirit…

It is ethics! Ethics! Ethics!