My husband and daughter call me the “Manager”! They do so in jest. Why? I love sales. I hate paying full price on anything. I clip coupons and lay ambush for anything I want until I can get at least 20% off.

In the last few years I couldn’t check some big retailers offerings online from Nigeria. Initially I wasn’t bothered because I actually shop from a few stores. Before September 2019, I could see my preferred retailers websites, monitor the things I wanted for price drops and put stuff in my shopping cart. Usually, they do not allow me to pay because of credit card fraud.

Uncle Demi knows my password, he always help complete the transaction. Since September, all the stores I buy from have denied access from Nigerian IP addresses.

The sites are no longer visible from Nigeria. I missed out on a lot of sales. To shop and get good bargains henceforth, I have to physically be in America. Imagine that!

Amazon with all its powerful technologies had to authenticate me using three layers to make sure my credit card was not stolen before I could order a book. The financial world attention is on Nigerians. Nigerians are not trusted at all.

READ MORE: https://thebelltimesng.com/2019/11/24/financial-distrust-is-hurting-nigeria-by-bamidele-ademola-olateju/

Our issue is a lack of authenticity, as in there's no guarantee the person making the purchase owns the money. They could be using someone elses details (as you did here!), which opens them up to fraud.

It's the reason for biometric data identity credit cards. Yea, I know those 5 words don't usually follow in that way, but I'm sure you heard of General Multi-Purpose Card (GMPC). Also see Mastercard's involvement.

I'm sure we will advance someday.