Nigerian Scam: What Is It and How Can You Take Action?

Never share your personal banking information with strangers online, as this can make you an easy target for a Nigerian scam.

It goes without saying that our digital world simplifies everything, including the search for love. With just a single swipe, you can possibly meet the love of your life. But unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky.

Thank online dating, which, aside from bridging love across borders, also leaves people brokenhearted. Or worse, with an empty wallet.

In fact, the Federal Trade Commission reports that consumers lost $1.4 billion due to romance scams, with $2,000 being the highest reported loss per person for any type of imposter scam. What makes romance scams especially sinister is that they prey on their victim’s emotions, which is just another feature of a Nigerian scam.

Does it ring a bell? If not, allow us to walk you through it.

A Nigerian scam is a form of fraud that involves requesting money or personal banking information through email and chats from various websites from someone claiming to be from Nigeria or Ghana. Hence, these imposters are labeled as “Nigerian scammers.”

These two nations are renowned for being the locations of "hustle kingdoms," which are unofficial schools that teach people how to commit online fraud. These "schools" now export their skills to other countries, causing the United States to lose $50 billion in 2023 to online scams, many of which are connected to scammers from West Africa, as claimed by The Conversation in 2024.

In this article, we’ll help you identify common tactics of Nigerian scams to help you navigate the internet and handle situations where you’re being tested.

How to Tell If Someone Is a Nigerian Scammer

If you’re interested in online dating or know someone who is, you should be aware of the following warning signs of a Nigerian scammer:

The Relationship Moves Too Fast

The most common method used by a romance scammer is a fast-moving relationship. This is because they initially entice you emotionally, forming a bond in which you two appear to naturally click until you become so comfortable that you begin to share more personal details.

You have to be extra cautious about this because, while online platforms try to make every bond appear smooth, you need to leave room for doubt. Especially when you have yet to meet them in person or video-call them.

They’re Always Unavailable for a Video Call

Speaking of video calling, the time will come when you become interested to learn more about them. Continuous chatting won’t do, so that leaves only one other option. However, the question now becomes a matter of when will they ever be available?

Chances are, they’ll always have some excuse, no matter how convenient or contrived. Recognize the continuous pattern. Don’t get swayed by their reasons, especially if they never seem to make time for a video call.

They Have a Financial Emergency Story

This is one major distinction between a Nigerian scammer and other romance scammers. They often come up with a story about needing money for an emergency relating to a medical, travel, or legal situation. You must recognize by now that these people are masters of human behavior, with their understanding of the various emotional triggers we all have, hence why they strike with these stories.

If someone you’re talking to online suddenly comes up with an emergency story, don’t be afraid to ask for more details. Even better, request any receipts or certificates that can verify the legitimacy of their stories, or seek the assistance of a professional who can assist you in determining whether it is real or not.

Their Requests Always Seem Urgent

Another aspect of their emergency stories is the pressure applied to them. They coerce you into sending money right away by invoking feelings of urgency and guilt. Regardless of how dire their situation appears to be, keep in mind that you only know so much about them. Anything they say to you may be false.

This is a gentle reminder to keep your critical thinking skills stronger than your emotions. If someone is genuinely interested in you, they’d be polite enough not to make any monetary demands early on in the dating process.

They Ask You to Send Money via Suspicious Means

Let’s just say they are very invested in the character of their emergency stories, and you are almost ready to believe them. They are already talking about how you can send money to them, but some of the methods are unfamiliar or even off-putting, such as gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

Have you noticed how specific their instructions are, despite your other suggestions? This is because these methods are untraceable and designed for scamming. No matter what happens, don’t easily give in and share your phone number, email address, or banking details.

Their Messages Have Poor Grammar and Spelling

To make them appear more authentic, their messages contain grammatical errors and misspelled words. This also makes it easier for Nigerian scammers to get through spam filters. Exercise caution and avoid responding to messages that are clearly poorly written.

However, this does not imply that people with typos in their messages are necessarily scammers or stupid. It’s just that scammers are often smart.

They Often Use Stolen Photos

The majority of these scammers use stolen photos of attractive individuals to make their elaborate online profiles appear more legitimate. In romance scams, where the goal is to establish an emotional rapport to obtain money or personal information, they use this to fabricate a false identity in order to trick victims.

Always use a reverse image search on a stranger's photo when chatting with them online to check if they are featured on other websites or profiles and to see if their names and photos match.

Gathering communication records and presenting them to the authorities is an excellent way to report a Nigerian scammer.

How Can You Report Nigerian Scammers?

In the event that you find yourself in such a circumstance, please don’t hesitate to report them right away. To assist you, here are some ways to report a Nigerian scammer:

Gather All Communication Records

Don’t immediately delete your conversation and call logs. Instead, keep these records so you can present them to the authorities as evidence. This strengthens your case and makes it easier to trace for them.

Contact Your Financial Institution

If you have already sent money to an alleged scammer, contact your financial institution right away to check on your account. See what steps you can take to further secure it in case the scammer tries to use your banking information against you.

Visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

To report a romance scam, go to ic3.gov, the central reporting portal for cyber-enabled crime. You can immediately see the red button labeled "File A Complaint," which leads you to fill out the necessary information for the investigation.

Falling victim to a romance scam, much more a Nigerian scam, is something we anyone to avoid. Both finding love and keeping your wallets safe and secure are things we want for you. May this article be of assistance in times of need, whether you are the one who requires it or others.

---

References:

---