Onyinyechi DURU
A certain Mr. Igiri Nelson Joseph, a native of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, has narrated his ordeal on how he was duped of N50,000.00 by a scammer.
Igiri spoke with TPCN in an interview on Monday, where he advised youths, those looking for job opportunity to be careful not to fall victim of robbery, kidnap, rape or been dupped.
He explained that out of the N300,000 demanded by a certain Mr. Gorgo, who promised to help him get a driving job for his father at UPTH, he paid N50,000.
The victim said, “My name is Igiri Nelson Joseph, shockingly, it’s a true life story, it happened to me. This young man came to my office, pretending to be a customer who wants to patronize my office and wants to have a contract deal with me.
“He came, made inquiries of my business area that he wants to use the banquet hall for certain events for a group of doctors in Rivers State chapter, claiming he is the chairman… Shockingly, his story was impressive. As a person, I want to improve my pro-activeness and impress my boss, meet prospective customers, connect with companies to yield more increase.
In my quest for this business deal to be actualized, I had to go the extra mile, doing everything he asked me to do. I heard him make a series of calls about job opportunities. My dad is actually a retiree, so I wanted him to get something to do because he is a professional driver, very certified.
“I spoke with him about my dad, he said no problem, that he can help my dad. We fixed a date for our meeting, this person came in person, not an online discussion, he didn’t scam me online, he came to my office, I offered him a drink.
“As we got discussing, the kind of money he was calling, I looked at the way he dressed, it didn’t really represent who he introduced himself as, especially the association, though he speaks fluently, but the look was terrible, the impression didn’t concur with his claim.
“He said they were going to sell the job opportunity, that there was a job in UPTH for a driver and the payment is N200,000 for starters but to get the job he will have to do some medicals which involves some money, he was quite convincing and that we had to buy the job opportunity for about 300 thousand, that we could pay installment. I had 50 thousand, he said I should send that one, which I did for him to start while I sort for the balance to pay.
“Somehow, I was convinced he was a fraudster. He was shivering, uncomfortable, didn’t even want to wait for my dad to bring his passport. Immediately I asked for his ID card, let me know where exactly he works. The first thing he said was Are you doubting me? I said no. He was unable to provide his passport, at that point I knew and had to alert people. I told him if he doesn’t confess I will arrest him, so he opened up.”
Worlu further appealed to those looking for a job to, “know that the hardship in the country is biting seriously and a lot of people are ready to do anything to earn a living, please be careful. Be convinced before you venture.”
On his part, the suspect who claimed to be a resident of Elelenwo in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, admitted the crime in an interview, affirming that, “I be scammer, yes I be scammer.”
“I tell am say I get work for the hotel, wey I wan give am, while nothing like that.
“I convince am say em get work wey I wan give am, so him come call em father come. Him come give me N50,000, I come collect the money.
“Him don know say I scam am, na em him come say make I give am back em money. I from Elelenwo.”
When asked what he does for a living, he said, “I no go fit lie to you, I be scammer.”
