₦airaland Forum

The solution to credit card fraud world-wide is for Visa, Mastercard etc to emulate Nigeria's Interswitch ATM/Debit card. It is one card I have worked with that is 100% fraud-free. The simple reason for this is that the card works as an ATM.

You must be kidding? I cannot divulge confidential information here, but have you ever considered why visa etc does not let you use your PIN online, or do you think that are stupid having been on the business for over 50 years? You will son discover what will happen to all your money in your bank account with that Interswitch solution hahahahaha.

Please do not use YOUR PIN ONLINE. To authorize it means that the server in question has to verify the pin somewhere, that location can be hacked by simply looking at where the message Is pointed to or intercepted. If that happens your ENTIRE BANK ACCOUNT will be wiped clean. Interswitch does not have a clue

Take it from the EXPERT

Somebody you will find someone that loves and appreciates you. Anything less is one way and a compromise and will never make you whole.

Ur girl is typical she wants it all, n even when you give it to her, it will never be enough because material things do not fulfill the soul.

What is this thing called love? If you search your soul you will find it. In another person you will find it in the attention they give you and the way that they treat you.

A public fora does not permit serious shared discussions, But good luck, the year has ended how about a new beginning.

Soul brother…..

Let me make the point clearer, look at this site on the web http://www.prepaidnigeria.com, I can show you a few more.
A wonderful idea but will likely close down because the same customers he wanted to serve, used bogus credit cards and stolen Paypal accounts to buy his product and like my earlier post, he unfortunately has to eat the cost. The credit card companies are designed not to suffer the loss.

In response to smartsoft, most online merchants will not ship to Nigeria; sometimes it is not their choice but their insurance company or card processor. If you find some that will ship to you then you are indeed lucky. Getting those cards and hoping to shop online is at the least a joke...

Do you know why U.S, companies don’t do as well as other European companies in Nigeria?

The just can’t do business “Nigerian Style”. If you know (not suggesting that there isn’t) of any US company offering or accepting bribes, you simply need to report them to the US Justice Department and the FBI will send an Investigator to Nigeria to investigate, and if they get caught, someone will GO TO JAIL.

The information here is not criticism but fact about information most of us don’t even know about, where are the danger spots, what are the dangers, what is the Modus operandi. This is a warning to their citizens about true and actual events taking place in a country, it is not a slight on Nigeria otherwise what will you call the following information on the UK.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: The United Kingdom is politically stable, with a modern infrastructure, but shares with the rest of the world an increased threat of terrorist incidents of international origin, as well as the potential for occasional and isolated violence related to the political situation in Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom). On July 7, 2005, a major terrorist attack occurred in London, as Islamic extremists detonated explosives on three Underground trains and a bus in Central London, resulting in over 50 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Following the attacks, access to Central London was temporarily restricted to accommodate emergency operations, however all services returned to normal with only minor disruptions the following day.
In the past year, several arrests have been made in the UK in connection with various possible international Islamic extremist terrorist plots. The British Home Secretary has urged UK citizens to be alert and vigilant by, for example, keeping an eye out for suspect packages or people acting suspiciously at subway and train stations and airports and reporting anything suspicious to the appropriate authorities by contacting the free confidential anti-terrorist telephone hotline at 0800-789-321. Americans are reminded to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution.

There is the potential for terrorism, cases of isolated violence and possible terror plots and the last line says “Americans are reminded to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution”. This is not very different for the caution for Nigeria.

So my point, sometimes your best friend is the one that tells you what you ought to see in the mirror not what you want to hear. So my point, these are issues we need to deal with, what do you think?

An innocent conversation leads us to believe that a lot of youth are involved in a major crimes (identity theft and credit card fraud) and do not even understand the impact the crime is having on innocent victims around the world. A transcript follows:

Major parts of the conversation have been edited out, and names have be changed .

Me: so what do you do online?
Netuser: i am looking for informations
Me: on?
Netuser: these
Me: what is these?
Netuser: Fresh Full Info with the following information: First Name Middle Initial Last Name Street Address City State Zip Code **Home Phone Number **Email Address Date of Birth Mothers Maiden Name Social Security Number Drivers Liscense Number and the full creditcard informations
Netuser: <ding>
Me: I c, good luck
Netuser: i want to use it to buy a book
Me: a book on what?
Netuser: on anatomy
Me: so u r a student?
Netuser: yes
Me: of?
Me: where?
Netuser: Obafemi Awolowo University
Me: OAU Ife
Me: studying what?
Netuser: medicine
Me: so u wil be a doctor someday
Netuser: yes
Me: and you are looking for fresh full information?
Netuser: yes
Me: is that good?
Me: what is your real name anyway Netuser: d**o
Netuser: all i need from it is just $20
Netuser: and i will replace it with $5000
Me: so why is a young person like you fooling around looking for complete info?
Netuser: i want to open a website for myself
Me: to do what?
Netuser: listen
Netuser: i saw an article on the net
Me: yes
Netuser: that there is a way to increase the credit limit to $5000
Netuser: so doing that
Netuser: i will not tamper with the owner of the cards money
Me: I'm sure you have better things to do, you will not only tamper with their money you will create additional obligations for them
Me: which they cannot escape
Netuser: oh
Me: oh

Continues……

This individual has been mistakenly informed that as long as she does not use the person’s money on the card, she is not tampering with them, that is, it will have no effect on that person. The truth is that the effect can be quite devastating.

If she succeeds in getting the information she requires and obtains the credit line she is seeking, she will have created an obligation for the person whose information she used. If they are unable to pay, she would have irreparably damaged their credit worthiness, not to talk about the effect it will have on their identity (theft of identity).

The point of this posting is

1. There is no such thing are borrowing an identity, it is identity theft.
2. There is no such thing as being a proxy borrower, it is financial theft.

How would you like someone use your name to enter into an obligation you know nothing about, can you imagine the impact on your life. Please do not engage in credit card fraud.

There are many innovative young Nigeria people that have setup e-commerce websites only to be hit by fraudulent cards for which they lost their goods and are stuck with refunding money to credit card companies. It is not only the ‘MUGU” suffering, you could be a victim too.

Ignorance is no excuse under the law.

It is a complete falsehood that the only person you know for certain is the president, each and every citizen has some kind of identification. You argument can hold true for any other country in the world.

It is not true that all policemen are criminals in borrowed uniforms, there are lots of honest hardworking men and women that do their work with dignity each and every day. You will find directing the traffic, investigating crimes and other jobs. This is not to say there aren’t some bad guys, read here, http://www.angelfire.com/ny2/bluewall/main.html?police. Also read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NYPD, “difficulties” would this lead you conclude that the entire NYPD is corrupt. No, that will be insulting the thousands of honest and upstanding men and women that put in their best each and everyday

Since you insist on facts, it is not factual that the Nigerian customs are a bastion of corruption. They are, just like in the earlier example good guys and bad guys.

Now to how do you make it there, now matter where in the world you are there is a Nigerian Embassy or Consulate, contact them for information and they will provide you credible contacts for any purpose that you choose.

Let me let you in on a secret..... The nutty Professor will soon resume other duties soon

If you think the players in Nigeria has changed, then look for the first NNPC brochure, all the same players from begining to end

I received this in my e-mail earlier today. Please find one lie in it and I will bring the foreign investors personally.

The US State Department has issued a warning to its nationals not to travel to Nigeria unless such visits are absolutely necessary or under armed guard. The department accused both the Nigerian police and military personnel of colluding with robbers to terrorise citizens. Some expatriates have been robbed in the outlying Lagos suburbs in recent months. The warning rates Nigeria in the same category of lawlessness as Iraq and Somalia.

The United States Department of State said the warning supersedes the earlier one of May 20, to "address increasing crime in Lagos, as well as unrest in the Delta region. The lack of law and order in Nigeria poses considerable risks to travelers".
The report, which an official of the Nigerian embassy in Washington described as a "black eye", rubbished Abuja’s claim of improved security.

It accused both the police and military personnel of colluding with robbers to terrorise the citizens. "Violent crime committed by ordinary criminals, as well as by persons in police and military uniforms, can occur throughout the country. In recent months, Lagos has witnessed a spike in crime. Some expatriates have been robbed in the outlying Lagos suburb of Lekki”, the reported added.

“In a working class section of mainland Lagos, an October 2005 clash between police and residents left several dead. Even Victoria and Ikoyi Islands, which are generally safer than other parts of Lagos, have experienced attempted bank robberies, and have seen an increase in smash-and-grab car robberies, including some involving expatriates".

U.S. officials warned of increasing cases of kidnapping, accused the government of not doing enough to eliminate or reduce or crime, and linked the upsurge to the troubles of Bayelsa State Governor, Dipriye Alamieyeseigha.

“Kidnapping for ransom of persons associated with the petroleum sector, including U.S. citizens, remains common in the Niger Delta area. The Delta region remains calm but tense following the arrest in London of a prominent governor on charges of money laundering, as well as the arrest of a local militant leader for treason”.

The U.S. Government said not much has been done to reduce ethnic and religious tension in the land, while terrorism is gaining a foothold.

“Religious tension between some Muslim and Christian communities results in occasional acts of isolated communal violence that could erupt quickly and without warning. The states of Kano and Kaduna are particularly volatile. Rival ethnic groups have clashed violently in the Niger Delta region around Warri city and in Plateau State. Senior Al-Qaeda leadership has expressed interest publicly in overthrowing the government of Nigeria. Links also were uncovered connecting Nigerians to Al-Qaeda in 2004.'

"Road travel is dangerous. Robberies by armed gangs have been reported on rural roads and within major cities. Travelers should avoid driving at night. Because of poor vehicle maintenance and driving conditions, public transportation throughout Nigeria can be dangerous and should be avoided. Taxis pose risks because of the possibility of fraudulent or criminal operators, old and unsafe vehicles, and poorly maintained roads.

[color=#990000]
"Most Nigerian airlines have aging fleets, and maintenance and operational procedures may be inadequate to ensure passenger safety. [/color]

“Some Nigerian-based criminals conduct advance fee fraud and other scams that target foreigners worldwide. These fraudulent activities pose great risk of financial loss. Recipients traveling to Nigeria to pursue such fraudulent offers have been subject to physical harm, and local police authorities are often unwilling to help in such cases.

For Seun, who is always asking where did you find this (here)

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_987.html
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_928.html

Here is the response of your President, a friend sent it to me in an e-mail

" I had told the Minister that if we cannot find men and women that are competent to man the aviation department, I am ready to bring people in from abroad' - Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria.

My friend added the following comment

I agree completely with the president's above statement as quoted in your column of this morning. However, since there was nothing done after the Bellview crash and this one happened too, we might even as a people go further than the President to ask for people from abroad to man the Presidency as well, before we all die off.

It's not only the aviation industry that is a problem in this country. Its unfortunate that Mr. President sees foreign intervention in the management of social infrastructure as a fall back option in the event of executive failure under his own leadership.

Daviddylan if you leave, you are chicken......
And if you are outside and you refuse to return you are fowl.

Nobody is going to solve your problem for you. U are a MAN abi u be WOMAN, even WOMAN don take up the cause

Good thinking, young men. Do you know what Shell advertises in the U.S. A world when there will be no Petroleum. Think about that. Shell advert in the US.

Everyday is a missed opportunity, I once attended a lecture in Germany and do you know what the told us. “Look at what we have built with no oil, gold, platinum……” Think about that.

I forgot to add, attending Executive Courses is not a bad thing but an enhancement to his resume and even then most resumes are a stretch as well. I have interviewed hundreds of people with long resumes and numerous certifications that have no clue of the foundational requirements of the job they are seeking.

If you take Harvard away from the resume, it makes him no less capable an individual, Microbiology and Genetic Engineering are not be sniffed at. Nicholas has worked very hard for where’s he’s gotten to. Friends that he keeps at a distance have no right to bring him disrepute because he did not invite them to come and chop too.

Now I said Nicholas was not the issue rather Transnational whatever is. What is it, who is it, what are its aims and objectives. Does it serve the national (shareholders) interest or private interest. That is the real issue

Omon - What's your stress?

A new board called http://www.i-nigeria.org that compliments what Seun's been doing here has opened up. I-nigeria does not operate a forum but your comments here at nairaland will help to shape the ideas that guide the principles of i-nigeria.

i-nigeria does not currently endorse any candidate but merely creates a forum for debate on the shaping of the appropriate candidate. i-nigeria's inspiration is the young minds here at nairaland. Please visit and read about the i-nigeria agenda.

Nicholas is not the issue, let’s not get distracted. For once Seun and I agree on a subject. I will celebrate with Champagne today. To the issue at hand, we can siddon look or investigate further.

Now I called Harvard University at 617 495 1000 and they gave me the graduate extension studies at 617 495 4024 and they transferred to the academic records department. Nicholas did attend Harvard for two classes, one in 1997 and another in 1999. These classes are executive classes. So you can read that anyway you like. And please dont be calling people liars unless you can prove it.

The weather does not kill, attitude does.

The fatal crash of Sosoliso was not the fault of the weather, the weather was merely a contributory factor. The blame lies solely on the captain who has the exclusive right of decision on whether to land or not to land.

Aviation regulations say that the captain, not air traffic control, nor management or any other party shall make decision with respect to the safe conduct of a flight. The Captain decides if the aircraft is safe to fly, if the weather permits take offs and if he should complete a landing at a specific airport or divert to another. The reason is that the fate of the passengers lies in his/her hands and he controls the vehicle at least for now, until we have airplanes that fly themselves.

In the Sosoliso tragedy, while we await the actual cause of the accident to be analyzed from the cockpit voice recorder and black box, we can at least make some deductions. There was no reported distress call so nothing to indicate that the aircraft was malfunctioning. The weather was reported to be bad, even the statement of one of the parents on the way to airport indicated this. As a result, we have to look at the possibility that the pilot made a decision to land the aircraft in bad weather, having tried a number of earlier times to make the approach and landing.

Now this is where my issue of attitude comes in. Every aircraft operating commercially, that is (carrying paying passengers) must carry enough fuel to get to its destination or on the alternate to divert to an alternate airport up to 45 minutes away. This pilot despite the reported bad weather chose to land at Port Harcourt airport when others had aborted their landing there. The end result is recent history.

I have flown numerous times within Nigeria and to balance the truth, I wish there was a choice. But the state of the nation’s air travel industry is not the topic. It is attitude. A side note, I predicted to friends that the ADC pilot who crashed in Kano will someday crash because I had flown in his aircraft a number of times.

I recently did a lecture on Security in Nigeria and on the issue of identification; I asked the participants to hand over their driver’s licenses. Eighty percent of the licenses I collected were fake. The holders of the license had never even visited the states where their driver’s licenses had been issued. At least they should have gone to the licensing offices to complete the form and take a picture to collect the license, let’s forget for the now the issue of taking a driving test. If any of those people had an accident and a claim was filed against them, how would they defend their driving record? I wonder how many bus drivers carrying millions of people daily actually have a driver’s license. Again attitude!

Is it attitude that says an airplane in need of critical service can wait until the last flight at night to get fixed? Is it attitude that says that there are passengers to continue the flight from Port Harcourt to Enugu so we have to land in Port Harcourt? Is it attitude that says that Third Mainland Bridge has not fallen down so it can wait on maintenance? Is it attitude that says that the educations system is not yet in need of a fix?

Do I need to go on? I think that it is time to analyze our sense of priorities; Nigeria does not fly the oldest aircraft in the world. I for one used to fly a 45 year old airplane but the critical parts were new and/or regularly serviced and when the weather was bad and I had flown to a destination far from home, I would rent a car and drive myself home.

By the way I decided to go City Hall to renew my own license. The genuine license was cheaper to renew than the fake sold outside.

The fatal crash of Sosoliso was not the fault of the weather, the weather was merely a contributory factor. The blame lies solely on the captain who has the exclusive right of decision on whether to land or not to land.

Aviation regulations say that the captain, not air traffic control, nor management or any other party shall make decision with respect to the safe conduct of a flight. The Captain decides if the aircraft is safe to fly, if the weather permits take offs and if he should complete a landing at a specific airport or divert to another. The reason is that the fate of the passengers lies in his/her hands and he controls the vehicle at least for now, until we have airplanes that fly themselves.

In the Sosoliso tragedy, while we await the actual cause of the accident to be analyzed from the cockpit voice recorder and black box, we can at least make some deductions. There was no reported distress call so nothing to indicate that the aircraft was malfunctioning. The weather was reported to be bad, even the statement of one of the parents on the way to airport indicated this. As a result, we have to look at the possibility that the pilot made a decision to land the aircraft in bad weather, having tried a number of earlier times to make the approach and landing.

Now this is where my issue of attitude comes in. Every aircraft operating commercially, that is (carrying paying passengers) must carry enough fuel to get to its destination or on the alternate to divert to an alternate airport up to 45 minutes away. This pilot despite the reported bad weather chose to land at Port Harcourt airport when others had aborted their landing there. The end result is recent history.

I have flown numerous times within Nigeria and to balance the truth, I wish there was a choice. But the state of the nation’s air travel industry is not the topic. It is attitude. A side note, I predicted to friends that the ADC pilot who crashed in Kano will someday crash because I had flown in his aircraft a number of times.

I recently did a lecture on Security in Nigeria and on the issue of identification; I asked the participants to hand over their driver’s licenses. Eighty percent of the licenses I collected were fake. The holders of the license had never even visited the states where their driver’s licenses had been issued. At least they should have gone to the licensing offices to complete the form and take a picture to collect the license, let’s forget for the now the issue of taking a driving test. If any of those people had an accident and a claim was filed against them, how would they defend their driving record? I wonder how many bus drivers carrying millions of people daily actually have a driver’s license. Again attitude!

Is it attitude that says an airplane in need of critical service can wait until the last flight at night to get fixed? Is it attitude that says that there are passengers to continue the flight from Port Harcourt to Enugu so we have to land in Port Harcourt? Is it attitude that says that Third Mainland Bridge has not fallen down so it can wait on maintenance? Is it attitude that says that the educations system is not yet in need of a fix?

Do I need to go on? I think that it is time to analyze our sense of priorities; Nigeria does not fly the oldest aircraft in the world. I for one used to fly a 45 year old airplane but the critical parts were new and/or regularly serviced and when the weather was bad and I had flown to a destination far from home, I would rent a car and drive myself home.

By the way I decided to go City Hall to renew my own license. The genuine license was cheaper to renew than the fake sold outside.

You answered your own question, Did you read my comments?

JUSTCE KE? – Let’s examine
Economic gains ne? - Obviously
Why are they not in DARFUR in their thousands? – What is the interest? Humanitarian, that is the job of the UN.
RWANDA nko? – United Nations
Congo nee? – United Nations
Liberia Kwanu? - UN
Sierra Leone self? UN
Northern Nigeria nko? Nigeria
Iyanapa ja and Mile twelve and Isalle Eko? Nigeria
How long did it take them to get to their backyard - New Orleans? As quickly as possible, lessons were learnt
I beg leave me hand jare
ONLY GOD KNOWS WHAT JUSTICE IS.

Google the word.....

STOP STOP STOP, there is an Eze-Ndigbo in Lagos State, what has been the impact on the authority of His Royal Highness the Oba of Lagos. Eze Nwachukwu was crowned Eze-Ndigbo of Lagos State by Late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan of Lagos after due election. A little research helps. All people have the right to representation in any community they find themselves.

The United States is not our enemy but a friend that has very clear ideas of its place in the world and its role to humanity. Regardless of what you see and hear, the goal is simple; the spread of justice, freedom and human dignity around the world, usually achieved through the spread of democracies which are representative governments that respond to the needs of their people.

America values human life that is why you will always see America first removing its citizens from harms way in troubled spots around the world, yet it is willing to sacrifice the same lives in Iraq, why? Because every one of those individuals that die though unintentional give their life for the preservation of the American way of life.

The preservation of freedom etc. cannot be achieved if America itself cannot guarantee its own security. It guarantees this by ensuring that vital resources and its vital interests are not disrupted by its enemies around the world. The Niger Delta of Nigeria is of strategic interest to the United States as it supplies energy, a critical resource. The activities of pirates (supported and unsupported), diversion of products etc. and the government in power in Nigeria all play critical roles in the economics of supply and demand of the product, its price and the resultant effect on the US economy. So when the US (a law abiding country) offers to help secure the area, it is merely doing so to ensure that the acts of subversives do not hamper its society. It cannot be seen as neo-colonialism or the like as they are neither pricing nor selling the product nor are they annexing any part of the area.

On the other hand it is an indictment on the Nigerian government for its inability to provide security in the area, that is why I applauded the earlier comments posted. The government (including the elected representatives) must do two things in the Niger Delta; address the needs of the people in the community as well as protect and secure the national interest. If they fail to achieve both of these things (not one or the other) then they have failed in their responsibility.

Please read this post by the administrator of this site.

Sebi na wetin you go chop you dey find?
Na wetin I go chop I dey find!

This is the attitude that got Nigeria to where it is today

Transcorp means the transfer of corporate Nigeria from the government to the corporate sector. The transfer of government monopolies to private monopoly with the board co-opting our leading industrialists into one mega corporation that will acquire Nigeria including the components of Nigeria that were illegally and corruptly acquired.

It is a creation of the Nigerian stock exchange (see the movement of personnel); it will acquire every company that the government sells. It will be awarded contracts on a scale you have never imagined and the justification is that it is Nigeria Inc.

Yet as the truth begins to unfold, the ownership structure will not translate to the board composition. The stock offering will blow your mind remember Corporate Nigeria, the same tactics will be employed in fund raising.

Who is Transcorp?

well said

A government that cannot guarantee the saftey of lives and property within its jurisdiction.... is not worth its salt.

Is Baba bad for Nigeria?

No, Baba is well meaning but he has to treat a malignant cancer that is engrained, well established and refusing treatment. However he appears bad because of the following

1. He is selective in justice; his friends (family included) get sidestepped in prosecution. His enemies experience his wrath. He requires more consistency.
2. He is unable to communicate his strategy and vision (direction for the country) in a manner that calls to action the beneficiaries of that vision. We are watching some of his programs for success others for failure, like the common saying give a dog a bad name so that you can hang it.
3. He treats with disdain and appears to disrespect the very institutions that he must reform and develop. By appearance the senate is a lapdog and the judiciary a rubber stamp as they offer no contributory output. Institutional building must be a mission for posterity.
4. Baba is most unresponsive; his military style does not fit well in a democratic setting. He must state to the citizens he governs his views and directions as the same people require that information to plan for the future. If he wants a third term he should state it and put it to debate not keep quiet and allow speculation to develop. If people around him cause him anxiety, he should state the facts and not allow dragons consume the psyche of the population.
5. He must control his utterances, every word is a Presidential declaration made not just by him but on the behalf of the people of Nigeria. So when he goes to India and invites them take over sectors of the economy instead of saying, it will be our pleasure to have you as friends to partner with us for development or he declares he will hand over the aviation sector to foreigners; he should work with his communications personnel that are trained in the appropriate rhetoric instead of engaging in unguarded misstatements that embarrass and denigrate us.

I must also point out the many positive developments of this administration

1. Reduction of debt for us and generations to come
2. Effective crime fighting though this has to move beyond the political sphere
3. Strengthening of the financial, banking and insurance sectors
4. An effective Stock exchange
5. Anti corruption crusade.


Major failures
1. The education sector, imperative for the future of our country to compete in the global environment
2. The health sector, even his wife has to go abroad for simple plastic surgery and governors for tummy tucks. Every incident you fly the person abroad. The common man is denied this opportunity for life
3. Security and Crime fighting, robbers still operate with reckless abandonment, claiming territory
4. Transportation Sector, Nigerians travel by dangerous night buses and rickety air danfos.
5. Social Services, you retire and go to hell
6. Power and communications. Should I explain, though there will be disagreement in this area. Telecommunications in not yet affordable and this is because of the licensing activities of the NCC (overcharging for licenses and lines)
7. Should I go on

The priorities are clear, are they not? Economic issues (making money) are the priority while social issues (building a livable environment has taken a back seat). Though one can see how if we jump start the economy we can bring the rest in line. But brothers and sisters it is biting 98% of Nigerians.

I can go on and on but I agree that it is easier to criticize than to praise, so when in the public glare, the public will follow the line of less resistance. I leave it to you to contribute positively to this discussion. I will collate your responses and make it part of a universal document that will be posted on the web

Tony Pendelite.

You'll probably get killed in the business, take a look at your competition out there. Unless you have about one billion naira, you aint got a chance. Not saying it is not a good idea but managing money is what it is, high risk and low yield.