I was supposed to post a different article
today but this couldn’t wait. I experienced something today that up until that
time I only heard as gist, stories and peoples experience, and to the best of
my street smarts told myself I would never fall for. Before I tell my tale,
just so you know I did get sucked in but got a happy ending. So if you want to
laugh you’re allowed, if you want to mock me; I pray it will not happen to then
you will understand why some people still for their stunts.
After a long time of bank issues with their
failed integration with their acquired bank, I finally got an opportunity to
stock up my purse and contribute to my savings. I was done with the withdrawal,
came home and completed my budget for the month. The only thing left was to
deposit my savings in my personal account, and this is where the story started.
It was still in the cool of the morning, the sun was still getting ready to
rise when I had finished with my deposit and was walking back home when this
dude, can’t call him a gentleman, didn’t look like one in my opinion. So I as
was telling, he came up to me and ask for directions of a Harrison plaza or
‘areson’ something like that around my area. To the best of my knowledge there
was no place or plaza by that name and I was very sure of that. I told the dude
nope, there’s no plaza like that round here, then he moved into phase two of
his deception (didn’t know at the time). He started to tell me he is a
foreigner (Finland) here in Nigeria after a long time with goods he was
supposed to deliver to a certain someone who had instructed him to come by
his/her Harrison plaza (for the sake of the dictionary) and get his payment for
the goods delivered which includes laptops, blackberry phones, and Italian gold
(God! I should have known). For some reason somehow I didn’t think that this
was a common scam, I was still playing the Good Samaritan role really honestly
(gosh I was so hooked).
As I was asking him if he had tried the
number again he said the number was unavailable, just then he called another
razz dude to ask of the same location of that unknown plaza, and that one
replied he didn’t know, then he started narrating his ordeal all over again and
that razz dude just took compassion on him immediately and requested we should
help him (tell-tell scam tactics), but still I had no clue, I was already
sucked into phase 3. The foreigner kept on saying he was a foreigner flashing
his dollars in his purse for us to see, the razz dude with me was advising him so
to speak that he shouldn’t say that out loud, and also said we should help him;
and I’m like we, when did this become a ‘we’ thing, but still it hadn’t dawned
on me yet of their foolish trickery. I guess I am too pure of heart, and quick
to have compassion, and then the bummer came! He promised if we followed him to
the port where his goods at he will give us each a laptop (but not MAC), a
blackberry phone, and 200 dollars; sweet! (Hypnotized me). Truthfully I thought
that was a bit suspicious, but that wasn’t my purpose, I just wanted to help
somebody in need so to speak (smh).
At this time we had started walking, the
three of us, and me walking so not in the right direction which was home. Did I
mention he asked if I was a Christian which he found comforting (liar!). All of
a sudden I noticed the dude was so in a hurry while I was being calculative and
careful because face it I am not following a stranger to port just because of
200 dollars (tempting illusion). So I decided to call my friend and ask him if
he knows anybody who could help buy this dude’s goods as to recover his money.
And come to think of it he never got duped at least he never got to deliver the
goods to the ‘scammer’ (subconscious thought), it is just dawning on me now
that I was the ‘scammee’ (permit my English), I was the supposed victim of
their scam. Anyways I was calling my buddy to come meet me where I was so we
could suggest help for the foreigner. Something started to feel wrong when I noticed
he didn’t want me on the phone, I then made matters worse for myself telling
him why I was calling (yeah I know…ssssh!), but it turned out my honest act
delivered me from phase 4, as he was quickly walking forward and hurrying
saying he was uncomfortable that I was calling and that he needs to go and meet
his ship at the port as it was going to leave soon. He picked up his pace and
crossed to the other side of the road while the razz dude his accomplice was
going the opposite direction (tell-tell signs of the scam). In my good faith I
tried calling him back to suggest he takes his goods to some other location
where he could sell them and make his money but he just kept on moving (fast).
In a matter of seconds my friend showed up and asked what the issue was and I
explained everything, and he too was like eeyah, till now I doubt if he had any
clue as to what was really happened. My eye opener to the situation came after
narrating the event to my mom and my sisters who had a swell time letting me
know I was hooked 100%, my sister especially.
OMG! I can’t believe I was that close to being
a maga (scammed victim), I guess my guardian Angel saved me; thank Baba God. As
from today I am not one to criticise or assume people should be wiser and
smarter when in this kind of situation because truthfully… E Fit Be You.
Thinking about it now, the idiots must have
seen me come out of the bank. Dumb schmucks I had just 20 naira on me.
MTSCHEEEEEEEEW!
18/07/12
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