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RE: ANNOUNCEMENT: The Nigerian Millionaire Prince is Dead – Long live the Nigerian Contest. LITTLE THINGS MEANS ALOT. I>PLAY.
I remember reading Ben Okri's The Famished Road. It won the Booker Prize. Awesome novel. Everyone should read it.
Yes, people do desperate things in times of high stress and poverty, that's for sure. Maybe they see the likes of us westerners living in luxury. But, often, the victims of G-boy scams are not rich. They're usually just normal people who work damn hard just to make ends meet themselves. They're lured by the idea of making a bit of extra money COZ THEY NEED IT! The scams don't touch rich people. They ruin other people who are also struggling.
I think you can make it honestly without damaging other people. For sure. People already have a hard time trusting Nigerians because of the G-boy reputation. Why not change that?
I haven't read the book. I think I'll after I'm through with the one I'm reading.
(I'm making all of this up)
Smiles. Not all of the schemes involved getting rich. There are different kind. Some involve impersonation. I steal a white lady's profile (one who has an active social media life so I can get get fresh pictures) , use VPN to change my IP and sign up on an European dating site (facebook works too) . There I connect with a guy and 'begin' a relationship. Then I tell him I lost my job or my mum is sick or problem with the bank or anything. The minimum wage here is $50/month. If I have ten guys on my list and each sends about $100 per week, hallelujah. Of course I would have more than ten and keep changing them.
Or I could claim to have a charity and want you to donate. Or I've got a house to sell, or a tractor.
(Remember I'm making all of this up.)
There are a million and one ways to scam. The get-rich schemes are almost outdated. These days, they play on your emotions, intelligence or both.
That's the irony. You only know they are Nigerians after they are caught. They know you don't trust Nigerians, but you trust a profile with a white man's picture on the display and pictures to back up his claims. For the ones with Nigerian profiles, no luck. Even if they're 'genuine'
The same thing happens on fiverr and upwork (in my dream world). Nigerians who make it there have false accounts. No one trusts a Nigerian.
Because the people at the top are suffering from constipation caused by overstuffing themselves with the nation's wealth so they don't give a shit.
Without technology, without the internet, a guy like me might never be able to chat with an European. Over here, I don't count in the grand scheme of things. So what should I do? Engage in a fight I won't win? Join the bandwagon and have my conscience turn into a haunting demon? Nah, I just close my eyes, create a world of my own and try to make the best out of the cards I've been dealt
Yes, I've heard of the romance types. I was on a dating website a while back and got approached by 'western-looking' males in military uniform. It was totally obvious what they were doing. I found it funny and entertaining so I played along for a while to see where the conversations would go. One had a sick child that needed an operation but the army wouldn't release his paycheck until he returned home. LOL. Another one (and I think we're on maybe only the 3rd message) said we should get married and that he could move in with me!!!! Well, I had fun but they lose their temper when they realise you're onto them.
Ah, the corruption at the top is hellish for sure. It must be difficult to live with that.
I think you're going about things the right way with your writing on Steemit. You're building a solid reputation as a great writer. Did you see @spiritualmax's post on the publishing on steemit? I reblogged it so it's on my feed if you're interested. It's another way to monetise your old posts and collect your works in one place for fans of your work.
Checked out the post, it's about Dbooks. Had actually seen the announcement post as it made the trending page the day it was published. I'm not really heavy on e-books though. I'm old fashioned, give me a paperback.
Lol at the military guys. Yes, they lose their temper a lot.
Yes, I meant it could also be useful as a 'book' to store each magazine, like a series. Anywaaaay...
Lol, they do :P