SEC-S30W1: Anecdotes that teach: Scammers are real; watch out!

A notification came into my phone and this text above was what I saw. Instantly I knew what it was. I smiled and showed the text to my friend. It’s scam I said. She seem to somewhat believe it maybe because she knew how they got my number. She’s been trying to put her business on goggle.

I asked her to help me use her true caller app to check the number that sent the text. It was the same name as said in the text. The picture attached to the number revealed a well dressed man seemingly affluent. The number is not on Whatsap she said. Well, how can a seemingly government official’s number not be on social media.

I replied “yes we can” to the text message. I wanted to confirm my suspicion. I didn’t get any response from the number until yesterday. A call came into my phone and started with the same enquiries. Is this Wolrdserene properties he asked. Yes please I answered.

He went ahead to introduce his portfolio and to explain how he’s from Abia state government house. He said the contractors in Abia state have been irresponsible and give excuses when it comes to handling contracts given to them by the government and hence the government has asked them to reachout to contractors outside their state.

I listened keenly while he rambled on and on for about four minutes on how he would invite me to the government house to come and bring my contract bid and how the government pays full quota to the contractors and all those good things you would want to hear.

He said he got my number through a friend who said I’ve worked for them in the past but didn’t know if our company was still operational and blah blah blah. I listened with patience while wondering why people are wicked and the extent they go to just to scam others of the little money they make.

He then told me that he will send me the number of the chairman incharge of the contract and he would tell me what do to and I should just mention to him that I am from him. Some minutes later he sent this text.

CALL HON DR. ANTHONY 09074505364, HE IS THE CHAIRMAN CONTRACT AWARDING COMMITTEE ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT. INTRODUCE YOUR SELF, LET HIM KNOW THAT YOU ARE CALLING THROUGH ME HON EMEKA ORJI REGARDING THE HOSPITAL PROJECTS AND THAT YOU CAN HANDLE IT. HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DETAIL AND THE NEXT STEP. FEED ME BACK. HON EMEKA ORJI.

I played along and called. The honorable started his own long talk and I was just waiting for him to land at the part where they would ask me to bring money and they did. He said for me to register for the contract, They will send me the details on my email but I would have to pay #75,000 (seventy five thousand Naira, that is equivalent of about 1000 steem with the current steem price).

He asked me to call the first honourable back and he would tell me how to proceed. I didn’t. They called me back twice today and I didn’t pick the call either.

Moral of this anecdote

There’s a saying that if it’s too good to be true, then it’s probably not true. Scammers binge on people’s greediness to scam.

They also binge on people’s ignorance. Ignorance is costly. If the government was looking for contractors, they won’t definitely come into my DM. They have their procedures.

The street is vicious. We should protect ourselves from wickedness through wisdom and smartness. I’ve heard a lot of these stories that it would be foolish to fall victim again cos I’ve been a victim to scammers though they come with different tactics everyday.

Let’s all be careful out there as we carry on our day to day living and not become victims to scammers. If you are confused, ask questions. Thank you.