A scammer on the loose.

Source

After my first experience with scammers, I kept wondering why people choose to hurt other people just because of selfish desires. It is really annoying to see people dress up in their home like normal humans in the morning; many will think they are responsible people just because they dress neatly in the morning and return home in the evening like someone who went out there to make a proper living unknowing to people that they are just thieves.

I have had numerous experiences with scammers and I can boldly say their tricks worked only the first time, I had zero experience of what the world looks like and the first experience taught me a lot. I was like a lamb that does not know the path of the forest but went playing around; I got scratched by a tiger in a chase I barely survived. The experience gave me an idea of what the world looks like and it helped me survive their plots after.

My first experience with a scammer happened in 2009 if I am not mistaken because it was after secondary school, I was desperate to change my phone from a land line to a Nokia phone and the decision gave me a true view of the world. My mates were already using browsing phones so I saved money for quite some time to achieve that dream, the money included my pocket money and what I made from doing menial jobs.

I told my mom about my intention of buying a second-hand phone with my savings which she wasn’t against and we chose the weekend to visit the market to get the phone. Something came up that weekend and she wasn’t available so I went alone.

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I got to the biggest tech market in Lagos popularly known as Computer village, it wasn’t my first time there but it was the first time I went there alone.

I entered the heart of the market like a lost kid;

(The lamb roaming in the wild)

I had only $13 on me which should be enough for what I wanted. I went from one shop to another but I didn’t get what I wanted because I met the price higher than the research result, I was sad and you can see it boldly written on my face.

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I was looking around again for luck when a young man dressed in a shirt and jeans approached me, he was looking official and that was what made me give him attention.

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He said "hello" with a beautiful smile and asked why I have been going around the market, I told him my problem and he promised to help me out.

He said we should head to his shop so I followed as a novice in the cold world; we circled almost half of the market but didn’t get to his shop.

While going, he brought out a phone from his pocket and asked if I wanted it. I checked the phone and it was great, I told him I had only $13 and wasn’t sure if it will do.

He said he was going to sell it just to help me because I have been through stress, I was happy that I met an angel. He counted the cash and asked for the phone so that he could remove his sim card, I gave it back and he turned front and back in 10 secs, and he handed over the phone to me.

(I was so happy to get such phone for that price, the smile on my face was fantastic)

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I wanted to check the phone and he told me to keep it quickly because some guys were approaching, I wasn’t even sure if they were coming for us but I obeyed him because he said they will be angry because he sold the phone too cheap and they might demand extra cash.

I didn’t think twice, I just left the place and moved as fast as I could. I was smiling and eager to show my mom what I got for $13, I boarded a bus and while we were moving, I decided to check the phone.

I tried to on it but it didn’t come up so I opened the back case, I got the shock of my life.

(this is unbelievable, how did it happen?)

I saw fufu (pounded cassava)/in the phone case, I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh, how would you have expected a 14-year-old to react?.

I threw the phone through the vehicle window and everyone was surprised, the people on the road rushed to get the phone out of ignorance. They made me laugh even though I was hurt, it was a mixed feeling for me.

I got home and narrated the story to my mom in tears but we ended up laughing about it.

She assured me I was going to get another soon which I did but the experience wouldn't just leave my head. I learned my lesson and never fell victim to scams again since then.

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Please note that all GIF used are from Peakd frontend.