pappilo: I have just come through MMIA and there are scammers openly operating in the arrivals terminal of the airport without fear or worry.

As I walked out, a guy approached me and offered to change some money for me. We agreed on a price and then he asked that we go to a secluded area. I was already wary of him as I am suspicious of every Nigerian and this request only made my suspicions stronger.

I went with him and he gave me the equivalent of my foreign currency to count. I still had my foreign money with me. I counted the equivalent he gave me and it was N1000 short. I told him this and he took the money back from me and started to count. I didnt count with him cause I knew I was going to count it all over again. He finished counting and gave me back the bundle and said it was truly one note short and he gave me N1000 to add to the bundle that was now back with me. The first thing I noticed was that the bundle felt much lighter than earlier, probably about N20,000 lighter. Anyway as I began to count the bundle again, an accomplice of his made some noises as if to say they were being raided and the barstard grabbed his money from me and walked away. I walked away to and sat in the arrivals terminal waiting to be picked up and right before my eyes, this same barstard successfully scammed another recently arrived passenger. I also saw another syndicate scam a woman passenger. This woman was hell bent on not taking her eyes of the counting but they eventually succeeded by distracting her with a phone call.

How is this allowed to go on unchecked right in the terminal of Nigeria's premier international airport. I find it hard to believe that the authorities dont know this is going on. Why are they not fighting it, why?

pappilo: I was already wary of him as I am suspicious of every Nigerian and this request only made my suspicions stronger.

So because you wanted to change 500 Zimbabwean dollars, [size=18pt]ALL[/size] Nigerians are now bad people, eh?!?!

puskin: Rule No. 1 of changing currency:

Never ever go without a friend to change your currency.
I count and my friend also counts to certify that I counted correctly.

@least, there is a slim chance both of you can be distracted during the transaction.

Its not about being distracted...it is vodoo magic used to dupe unsuspecting people. The jazz is usually on that 1000 naira note added to the money.
Rule No. 2:

Read No.1 and go with 2friends this time.

pappilo:

I walked away to and sat in the arrivals terminal waiting to be picked up and right before my eyes, this same barstard successfully scammed another recently arrived passenger. I also saw another syndicate scam a woman passenger. This woman was hell bent on not taking her eyes of the counting but they eventually succeeded by distracting her with a phone call.

puskin: Rule No. 1 of changing currency:

Never ever go without a friend to change your currency.
I count and my friend also counts to certify that I counted correctly.

@least, there is a slim chance both of you can be distracted during the transaction.

Rule No. 2:

Read No.1 and go with 2friends this time.

yuzedo:
So because you wanted to change 500 Zimbabwean dollars, [size=18pt]ALL[/size] Nigerians are now bad people, eh?!?!

100%9ja:
You are an enabler. you know he is fake, why do business with him.
There are several licensed exchange counters at the airport. Better till
wire your money ifficially before you arrive Lagos. Why take the chance and get robbed
or even worse still get physically hurt.
Just like the customs at the airport, if you stop giving them bribes or something for dinner
as they would skillfully say, they will stop harrassing travelers.
Lets clean MMIA one step at a time.

pappilo: I have just come through MMIA and there are scammers openly operating in the arrivals terminal of the airport without fear or worry.

As I walked out, a guy approached me and offered to change some money for me. We agreed on a price and then he asked that we go to a secluded area. I was already wary of him as I am suspicious of every Nigerian and this request only made my suspicions stronger.

I went with him and he gave me the equivalent of my foreign currency to count. I still had my foreign money with me. I counted the equivalent he gave me and it was N1000 short. I told him this and he took the money back from me and started to count. I didnt count with him cause I knew I was going to count it all over again. He finished counting and gave me back the bundle and said it was truly one note short and he gave me N1000 to add to the bundle that was now back with me. The first thing I noticed was that the bundle felt much lighter than earlier, probably about N20,000 lighter. Anyway as I began to count the bundle again, an accomplice of his made some noises as if to say they were being raided and the barstard grabbed his money from me and walked away. I walked away to and sat in the arrivals terminal waiting to be picked up and right before my eyes, this same barstard successfully scammed another recently arrived passenger. I also saw another syndicate scam a woman passenger. This woman was hell bent on not taking her eyes of the counting but they eventually succeeded by distracting her with a phone call.

How is this allowed to go on unchecked right in the terminal of Nigeria's premier international airport. I find it hard to believe that the authorities dont know this is going on. Why are they not fighting it, why?

Am I the only one who feels this isn't a big deal and infact a false alarm?
Yes we know there may be criminals hanging around our airports but when I saw the words 'SCAMMERS' and 'FRAUD,' I thought I was going to read something interesting.

Why would anyone in his/her right senses not count the money given to them?
Ok, let's assume N1000 out of a huge sum was short, couldn't that have been a honest error that could be committed by anyone? Do you honestly think that a REAL scammer would want to take ONLY N1000 from the huge amount?

If they had given you fake currency or maybe INSISTED on you handing over your foreign currency first, then maybe I would have been inclined to believe that they had something sinister in mind. However, with your story, there isn't a single evidence YET to prove that this guy you met is a fraudster.

isha.salam:
I have been scammed d same way @ Allen. I couldnt believe it cos I consider myself street smart but these f**kers are terrible.
Their days are numbered.

obailala:

Am I the only one who feels this isn't a big deal and infact a false alarm?
Yes we know there may be criminals hanging around our airports but when I saw the words 'SCAMMERS' and 'FRAUD,' I thought I was going to read something interesting.

Why would anyone in his/her right senses not count the money given to them?
Ok, let's assume N1000 out of a huge sum was short, couldn't that have been a honest error that could be committed by anyone? Do you honestly think that a REAL scammer would want to take ONLY N1000 from the huge amount?

If they had given you fake currency or maybe INSISTED on you handing over your foreign currency first, then maybe I would have been inclined to believe that they had something sinister in mind. However, with your story, there isn't a single evidence YET to prove that this guy you met is a fraudster.

puskin: Rule No. 1 of changing currency:

Never ever go without a friend to change your currency.
I count and my friend also counts to certify that I counted correctly.

@least, there is a slim chance both of you can be distracted during the transaction.

Rule No. 2:

Read No.1 and go with 2friends this time.

Ilekokonit: The fact that they noticed that you intended to recount it by not even looking at their second count messed up their game plan and made them realise their game was up.

For those of us who thinking we were street wise and could not be duped if we seriously focused on their second count, we realised to our chagrin when we got home that these guys were criminally trained.

Its not magic nor juju. Its a hand trick that was pulled on us whilst someone else distracted us whilst the other fellow was counting. What they do is to give you a better rate to win your trust and then give you less than calculated.

When you complain they will collect the money back and count it one by one placing each verbally counted note into your own hands but what you will not notice is that somewhere in the middle of their counting they just place a verbally counted note in your hands and within a "split second" pull it back into their own hand thus one note is verbally counted twice and this scam is repeated a few times by sleight of hand thus short changing you.

At least that is how I "figured out" that I was cheated of 5k outside Airport Hotel in 2007 but I only noticed when I got home.

Firefire: Guys, it is very true, these fraudsters are real.
I had an encounter at Alade Market; I went to change some money. I met this guy who approaches me. We agreed the price and he took me to his shop frontage.
I told him, I heard you people here are thief and money disappear etc. He said “God punish him if he do something like that"
After I counted my naira, it is minus #1,000. He collected all money back from me and do the recount, I counted it again and he now handed over the balance #1k. I left, while holding tight the money in my pocket.
When I get to my office, I recounted the money; pronto #20k is OFF.
I went back to the shop believing am dealing with original person, was told they don’t know them.
I was determined to get back my money.
I stayed at that Alade market for more than 2hrs, I keep telling all people coming to do Fx, please go inside, this guys are THIEVES, please go inside and meet original people.
When the guys could not tolerate me again, they became annoyed, they confronted me; Oga watin happen now... why you dey spoil our market? I told them one of you just duped me. I must get my money today! Today!!, I have send signal to the Area Command…….
The police around the area approach me for solution, they ask how much will i pay them to help me get back my #20k, I said I will pay 2k (i.e. 10%), they said no 5k, I agreed. they went to call the Head of Bureau De Change, he gave me 15k from my 20k after many stories and talk. he told me to please come back 3 days later to testify because they will go and arrest the guys from Local Airport as they are not registered with them but the know them based on my description, so that he too can get back his 15k oooooo. I said no problem.
I gave police 2k to balance 3k when I get back my 5k. I did not return again!

Lesson Learnt: - I was greedy then (I had the option of getting my transaction done in my office, but I wanted higher rate).
So approach registered Bureau de change don't mind the rate, it's better than losing more.

If after reading this you still fall pray, I no go pity you.