Hushpuppi, 419, Scam: Internet Fraud is a Shame to Nigeria

By Nneka Okumazie

Poverty is bad. Nigeria is hard. Government is inept. Money must be made. Internet fraud is the tactic.

Losses are compounded. Lives are ruined. Fraudster gets rich. Luxury is possessed. Tackiness nudges addictively. Debauchery is hugged. Some money is diversified. Fraud continues. Fraudster gets busted. A disgrace to the individual, shame to the nation.

Corruption is a common situation with governments around the world, but there are some problems that give a country a bad name, worse than corruption.

The internet is flush with scams. But 419 scams or Nigerian Prince is a major tag to the nation in shame to many of the people – beyond most of the problems of the country.

Who cares much about great stuff from a country that can’t seem to be trusted?

Why would a legitimate citizen of a country – with a certain reputation try something, and a foreigner will not be sceptical?

The value of trust in business, or in the marketplace may be taken for granted, until trust, intention, or motive is questioned.

Nigeria is not the only country with some citizens of internet scams, but the notoriety, emails, deceit and headlines, cost the country what can be calculated and not be calculated.

Initially, government corruption was a major way to illegitimate success.

Some got caught, others weren’t, but it was – for some, aspire to be at the government for a share of graft.

Poverty is rife in the country. But money or just money has never been the way any country got great.

Poverty made many wanting money from any source.

Opportunities are difficult for many, so, they went with fraud?

There are so many people to blame for the internet fraud epidemic in the country – starting from how the governments gave corruption a seat.

But, blaming government much also made many think despair or that government alone builds a nation.

It is so unfortunate for any country to get deeper in the news of shame, all too much.

Poverty and the supremacy of money censored hopes that family, friends, or others around fraudsters would tell them the pain they cause, or losses to lives of their victims.

Many of them don’t get arrested but internet fraud money is doom – directly or indirectly, no escape.

The slow-wittedness that – money is everything – cost many of the youths of the nation.

The desperate race to money, looking good and possessions, as marks of doing well in life, have left some unable to understand that living in this time, with so much information, to learn, explore, think and create solutions, is a privilege.

What a loss.

Many decades ago, in a developing nation, an individual started a lending program to a few poor in a community, no collateral, no guarantee, no lawyers.

It worked. It grew and became a bank. Many said it would fail, he said until it does, he won’t stop.

The bank went further to lend to beggars, so when they go homes to beg, they also sell something.

Some homes would give to them and buy, or do one, both, or none.

Some of the homes turned the beggars to delivery people – to get stuff for the next day, many years before e-commerce delivery became a global phenomenon.

Some stopped begging.

The individual took risks, but it takes a society a level of trust, or integrity to collectively do great.

The country may still be poor, but the addition of that system to the world continues to help finance certain categories of economies.

It is a wonder why such programs – in the same way, have not been able to fully grow anywhere in Africa?

Africa needs integrity therapy centres, to teach people integrity and how important it is.

So, when there’s any problem, information is known to be to the best of the knowledge, verifiable and true.

Genuine Christianity teaches integrity, but it seems the Church has to rocket the message, truth always.

[Romans 13:9, For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandments, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.]