Helping got me into losses. A man met me claiming he is a trader from Cotonou, that he is Catholic and arrived in Nigeria with electronic goods he needed to sell to get money to get back to Cotonou, that these goods were packed at a convent with a reverend sister that pitied his situation because he was stranded. That his usual buyers in Nigeria abandoned him and refused to buy his goods. He pleaded profusely to help him in getting his goods from the convent to the markets in Onitsha, that he is confused and doesn't trust anybody, that he hears Nigerians are scammers a lot. That can he trust me? (I, that he was planning on how to steal finish).


He was speaking raw English and mostly french (this I later figured out he only knew it superficially).


I had my doubts, but not being too busy that day I decided to help him.

They were in a team of 6 scammers, but team-tagged me by one by one. So immediately the No. 2 in the team walked by and started urging we should help him. Then No. 2 man went and got a No. 3 man who is a keke driver. So we left for the convent. The scam Cotonou trader was smiling all the while and all the while "behind the beautiful smile is an ugly face" kept ringing in my head.


It was at a very quiet location in Obosi that they stole 3 phones, laptop, and cash from me. This happened when I finally concluded in my head, that this man is a thief, and gently asked him to give me one of my phones he borrowed, that I wanted to check something.

While they were robbing me, he started speaking Igbo fluently.


In Upper Iweka Onitsha, this is very common. All of Owerri road in Onitsha, is a haven for thieves who specialize in stealing phones.

Some of the thieves also ask innocent people to join them in a car to direct them to their location or to help someone.

Don't agree to follow a stranger to anywhere inorder to assist him.


After all this, I remembered a friend told me, if you see him outside, you would think he is wicked because he doesn't help strangers.

PS: It is an old scam, a lot of people I told, always told me it is old format. And I kept asking myself, how come I never heard of this old scam?


Anyone travelling along Owerri road in Onitsha should hide their phones well, or if in a private car, close all your windows, so the street urchins can't get the person's phone or rob one.

Does Cotonou, stranger, goods format still work on people ?





.

Humans are unpredictable.Thats why many men who own cars never stop to give lifts to another man who claims to be stranded.They don't want to be robbed,if they can avoid it.I don't blame such at all.The world is increasingly getting more wicked, and no one can be trusted, and to even think of a total stranger.

This format is so old ... They use to use it in Kano and in the north mostly ... Kai... That is why I always try to update myself with scam format so I can detect it ... I swear the format is exactly what they use they just add some extra at the tail end like .... Magic money and other none sense ... Men guy sorry for your loss jare

Na old format. E happen to me 2012.

I could have been a victim of this as way back as 2012 also. I guess I have this default setting for not falling for scams.

Wait fess OP,how old are you.because it seems you dont know this fmt is damn old.senior men no fit fall for this,only if dem use jazz

The title of the thread was confusing until I read the actual story. There may be situations where a stranger is genuinely in need of assistance and you should help if you are able. But when he proposes a business, you should be wary

doggedfighter:
Does Cotonou, stranger, goods format still work on people ?





.

i wonder o!

I remembered same format in mile 2

This one was French speaking, mostly electronics,phones and laptop, na when I saw a scary face coming up( the second guy's face looks like someone who is a criminal or tout,stitched face) the igbo guy who met us(me and the guy) told me in igbo language, let's rob this guy,let's steal those things from me since he doesn't know anywhere. Omo na so I distance myself o

Why be say, if I no do am the igbo guy might harm me in the process and if I do am,it's a bad thing as I don't cheat people.. I had to dodge am and said I'm late to there I was going that the second guy will help him out..

The way they talked while going made me realize this might be a scam,followed them as they went up from the hill part to the top of the Express, I knew it was a plot

Franzinni:
This format is so old ... They use to use it in Kano and in the north mostly ... Kai... That is why I always try to update myself with scam format so I can detect it ... I swear the format is exactly what they use they just add some extra at the tail end like .... Magic money and other none sense ... Men guy sorry for your loss jare

Yes, it's old format, a lot of people I told, always told me it's old. And I kept asking myself, how come I never heard of this old scam?

So that's why I put out my experience so others who don't know about it yet will know, because there are people who don't know. And if someone doesn't have this scam education, he will fall for it.

Someone who doesn't know it, may fall for it out of mercy.

FreeLine:
I could have been a victim of this as way back as 2012 also. I guess I have this default setting for not falling for scams.

The other spins of the scam I added are what people who I told my experience, told me scammers attempted on them (these people still fell for these scams recently because they didn't know).

Mishhcre:
Yes, it's old format, a lot of people I told, always told me it's old. And I kept asking myself, how come I never heard of this old scam?

So that's why I put out my experience so others who don't know about it yet will know, because there are people who don't know. And if someone doesn't have this scam education, he will fall for it.

Someone who doesn't know it, may fall for it out of mercy.

true ... It's good you shared the experience.

Lol.... 2015

At same.upper iweka.

I just dropped from a bus when one approached me speaking the same stupid french.

Then a bike man urged me to assist him that he will compensate us very well...

This time he said he is looking for St Mary plaza at electronics...

I remembered I needed to get drugs for my dad at ogbo ogwu..

I decided to use the free ride o..

The bike man started the bike, oga said I should hop in.
I said mba o,
You're the stranger, let me safeguard you from the back.

When we got to premier brewery, I pointed at electronics market.

He said it's not this one, that it is asaba..

I told the bike man to stop the bike.

For where?? E no stop o�

I told him I was going to give him a very powerful slap that will lead to accident and I will shout .

Oga parked sharp sharp..
I thanked them for the free ride and off I go to ogbo ogwu..

The french man Sha do me Waka...

annayawchee:
Lol.... 2015

At same.upper iweka.

I just dropped from a bus when one approached me speaking the same stupid french.

Then a bike man urged me to assist him that he will compensate us very well...

This time he said he is looking for St Mary plaza at electronics...

I remembered I needed to get drugs for my dad at ogbo ogwu..

I decided to use the free ride o..

The bike man started the bike, oga said I should hop in.
I said mba o,
You're the stranger, let me safeguard you from the back.

When we got to premier brewery, I pointed at electronics market.

He said it's not this one, that it is asaba..

I told the bike man to stop the bike.

For where?? E no stop o�

I told him I was going to give him a very powerful slap that will lead to accident and I will shout .

Oga parked sharp sharp..
I thanked them for the free ride and off I go to ogbo ogwu..

The french man Sha do me Waka...

this is really funny!!!! [center][/center]

chypotenti:
this is really funny!!!! [center][/center]

I took foolish risk Sha

Sorry bro.
But falling for this old scam was a JJC move.