🚨 Scam Alert: Exposing Nigerian Scammer 🚨

SharkyNCIS August 23, 2025

Online scammers often pretend to be from the US, UK, or Europe — but their mistakes usually give them away. Here are some red flags to watch for:

🔎 Common Slip-Ups That Expose Them

Slang that doesn’t belong
- Words like “Alaye” (Yoruba slang for “dude” or “guy”), “Wahala” (problem), or “How far?” (how are you?) sometimes slip into their texts.
- They’ll usually claim it was a “typo,” but no autocorrect would type Nigerian slang by accident.
Strange greetings
- Messages often start with “Dear Beloved”, “Dear Sir/Madam”, or other overly formal phrases that feel outdated.
Unnatural English
- Phrases like:
  - “Kindly send me your details for smooth processing”
  - “I want you to assist me with this transaction”
- Grammatically correct, but not how native speakers normally write.
Cultural slips
- Using Nigerian honorifics like “Oga,” “Chief,” “Madam,” or “Ma.”
- These are polite in Nigeria, but stand out when someone pretending to be American or European uses them.
- They may also mention West African banks, or send a +234 phone number (Nigeria’s country code).

⚠️ What This Means

If someone claiming to be from abroad accidentally uses Nigerian slang or honorifics like “Alaye,” “Wahala,” or “Ma”, they’re almost certainly a scammer.

✅ Protect Yourself

Never share personal or banking details.
Double-check numbers, emails, and grammar.
Treat unexpected messages with unusual slang or honorifics as major red flags.

Stay sharp. Don’t fall for it. 🚫