My Instagram bio ought to be a deterrent. Not only does it describe me a journalist, but, it also has a link to my verified muckrack portfolio, full with articles from my days as a hard hitting investigative reporter in Africa.
But that did not scare away a Nigerian scammer – who stormed into my private messages armed with a seemingly disarming profile, a young woman using the name Kimone Mattis Investments.
They were quite polite, believe it or not. Apologising for his (the young woman trick didn’t fool me) intrusion, before asking me if I was interested in a venture that would help me make extra money for bills.
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Of course, the huge X at the end gave it away, and I don’t get fooled easily. Not through love scams. Not through forex, bitcoin, and mineral investments.
In a depraved way, I find emails from African Princes promising me billions of Muammar Gaddafi’s looted treasure hilarious. I read them, braving the truly horrific grammar, to the end.
Many of the stories from these fraudsters – or “419 scammers” as they are known by the Nigerian penal code they violate – would make good books.
So I knew what was coming, and for once decided I would play ball and play along. Nothing like wasting a scammer’s time, and while at it doxx a few of his money mules.
My scammer, offered to double my investments in 30 to 45 mins. I agreed and offered £800 which I wanted turned into £8000 in half an hour.
Then I introduced my…
