The Menace Of Mobile Telecom Scams In Nigeria

by Olusola Oyewola
2007-03-19 06:59:57 | Viewed 3799 times

The fraudulent activities of tricksters who pose as staff of mobile telecommunication network providers have become a menace both to the service providers and the subscribers in Nigeria and with the harvest of promotional sales among network operators aimed at attracting more customers, these category of lawlessness people seemed to have more confidence as their operation is on the rampage.

Every now and then there would be reports in the dailies of people who fell victim of these heartless fraudsters. The annoying thing about this messy situation is how they disguise as representative of the service providers in order to defraud innocent subscribers.

Subscribers interest in promotional sales has drastically reduced as reported by the dailies, and this has affected participation in genuine promotional sales. The ways they operate do not really leave room for any doubt as to their authenticity. They seem to know their “prey” very well. Take this case as an instance, when he received a call from an unanimous caller who pretended to have just arrived from abroad little did Tony know that he was about to be swindled. The caller informed him of some gifts from his relative in abroad and he would need Tony’s assistance in clearing them, since he did not have Nigerian currency at the moment he asked Tony to send some airtime to a certain number. Incidentally, Tony has an uncle in London of whom he has not heard from for long, and therefore he did not even bother to inquire further before sending the airtime. He never heard from the mystery caller again.

Text messaging popularly called SMS (short messaging service) is their most effective means of operation, this is because they are able to do this just like any service providers will do, but for the sending code service. Usually a congratulatory message would be sent to their potential preys informing them that their cell phone numbers have won certain prizes usually of substantial values, just like any message from the genuine network operators would read. And that is the beginning of some sad stories, other things follow and before the unsuspecting users know, they have already found themselves in their net.

However, one is tempted to think that some subscribers too are gullible and lack the ability to reason logically. Why should anyone win a prize when such person did not enter or apply for a draw in the first place. In most cases, they are to be blamed for being greedy and offering themselves to be swindled. Again, service providers do offer customer care services where they can be reached for enquiries. Then, why not inquire from them before proceeding on any exchange with anyone.

The way out

It is therefore necessary for subscribers too to be more cautious in the way they deal with issues. Application of logic into one’s way of life, is also important so as to deal with fraudulent issues such as this. Again there is need to be honest, because if you are sincere with yourself you would not be looking for a free drop of wine from a palm tree, knowing fully well that you did not tap on the palm tree. Network providers too should put up some measures to address this fraudulent activity. There is need to monitor their members of staff on a regular basis to ensure that they are discharging their duties within their jurisdiction.

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The author, Olusola Oyewola, is a subscriber of one of the cellular networks in Nigeria, and until very recently, a student of Federal University of Technology, Akure in Nigeria.

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