Veteran cop interviews Nigerian scammer on video to explain his scam to the world

Scammers make use of the internet and social media to reach out to potential victims daily. For some, this is their way of life. It's what they consider to be their occupation and the victims are just necessary casualties. Their scams and ploys evolve and adapt to mislead people from all walks of life. Surprisingly, many people fall for these scams and provide their hard earned dollars to someone they trust, but shouldn't. One of the most common scams is the promise of large amounts of money that require administrative fees or taxes for release. The scammers use social media profiles to impersonate a friend and then invite the victim to take part in a payment opportunity.

When a Nigerian scammer named "Mark" impersonated a trusted friend and contacted Dave, a veteran police officer, he was hoping to gain his trust and scam Dave out of his money. But in a shocking turn of events, the scammer got money in a way that he never dreamed of. And Dave got something in return that might never have been done before.

Initially, Dave made fun of Mark, who was posing as his buddy, Ben, asking him when he was released from jail. Mark plays along and the sarcastic responses continued. But then things got serious. Dave admitted that he knew the scam and he offered Mark money in exchange for revealing the secret of his ruse. The catch was that Mark would have to agree to an audio call that would be used to educate the public about the scam itself. Fifty dollars was too tempting an offer for Mark to refuse and these two began to negotiate their terms. Mark couldn't trust Dave to pay so he asked for the money up front. Dave was also short on trust for a confessed Nigerian scammer, so he insisted that the money be paid immediately after the phone call. With nothing to lose and fifty dollars (U.S.) on the table, Mark agreed to speak honestly if his identity could be protected.
Mark called Dave on Facebook and they talked about scams, people in U.S.A. and the struggles of people in Nigeria. It was a frank and open discussion and it was obvious that Mark was in a world where there are few honest options. As Mark and Dave spoke, Dave sent Mark fifty dollars through PayPal. The conversation continued and Dave couldn't help but think that Mark had more than honoured their agreement. Dave sent another fifty dollars that wasn't asked for. Mark and Dave exchanged pleasantries and hung up after a lengthy call.

Mark immediately sent a message through Facebook and suggested that a video call would be much better for making a video about the scam. Understandably, he asked for another fifty dollars for a video call. Dave liked the idea but they had to make sure that Mark's identity would be protected in the video. They agreed that he would wear a hat and keep his face partially off camera. Dave also assured Mark that his face would be blurred if it was visible at any time.

Surprisingly, the two had now established enough trust for each other to work out the details and, within a few minutes, Mark and Dave were on a video call. It was possibly the first video call ever between a scammer and a retired police officer, discussing his methods.
Dave asked some of the same questions that were asked on audio and a few new ones, trying to show an accurate picture of the scam and why Mark does what he does. North Americans have very little understanding of what life is really like in a third world country. They have little understanding of how people there perceive the people of the western world. And more than anything, North Americans don't truly understand what they would do if they were faced with the same struggle for survival. But almost anyone would ask how a person like Mark lives with himself as he dupes good people. In a brutally honest manner, Mark's position is clear. He simply needs to run scams in order to survive.

Dave sent Mark a third fifty dollar payment as they had agreed to. Throughout the conversation, these two developed a surprising level of trust and respect. But as they talk, Mark shows that our life in North America is vastly different that life in Nigeria. It's very possible that any of us would make the same choice that Mark does in order to get food.

In Mark's world, the common belief is that all people from North America are rich and that they have a life that some Nigerian people can only dream of. Mark says he wants to come to U.S.A. in a voice that conveys his understanding of how impossible that dream is. When we take an honest look at the comparison between both worlds, their belief is understandable that we have everything and they have nothing.

It's important to protect ourselves from these scams, but it is also important to remember that anyone will do what they can to survive. Don't allow scammers to access your information and your friends list on social media. Don't provide any personal or financial details to anyone over the internet. Don't ever pay money in hope of getting more.

And, don't forget that we are luckier than we know to live where we do.