Chances are that you’ve encountered a Nigerian scam attempt in your email inbox. The message typically claims to be from a prince who requires a specific amount of money, offering substantial rewards in return for those who assist.

The ruse and similar scams have now carried over to phishing phone calls and social media crimes as well. The simple fact is that there is no prince, and those falling for the trick are bilked out of their hard-earned cash they’re likely never to see again. These types of scams aren’t exclusive to Nigeria, but the country has been a hotbed for producing some major charlatans looking to bilk the unsuspecting. 

A Nigerian Scammer Tells All!

Other similar scams involve deceiving victims into believing they are entitled to a major payout from a bank, government entity, insurance company, a wealthy benefactor, or another organization but require an upfront payment. Crypto schemes are also on the rise.

Some scammers inform victims that they’ve won a lottery and must simply pay a fee to claim the funds. That was the case in 2023 when seven people in the U.S. and Jamaica were indicted and arrested for allegedly running a lottery scam that preyed on the elderly and vulnerable.

The U.S. The Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh stated that the enterprise stole $4.5 million from victims, and those involved were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering following an investigation that involved both U.S. and Jamaican law enforcement officials. In March, four more in the Pittsburgh area were charged with being part of the group and face similar charges.

Back in 2024, a record $16.6 billion was stolen through online scams, according to the FBI. In total, the Global Anti-Scam Alliance estimates that more than $1 trillion in 2024, with victims found in all parts of the world. Along with Nigeria, scammers are frequently located in countries such as India, China, Brazil, Pakistan, the Philippines, Romania, Venezuela, Russia, Ukraine, and others.

What it’s like from the perspective of those on the inside, and how do the culprits in these schemes entice suspects to send them money? Skillset recently spoke with a reformed Nigerian scammer to find out.

Love Stinks

Getting unsuspecting email, text message, and phone call recipients to part with their own money isn’t easy. Christopher Maxwell knows this first hand. The 26-year-old grew up in Nigeria in a family of seven. His father is retired, and his mother works as a teacher. He moved into scamming while in college.

Being involved in these types of operations is standard, Maxwell says, and is seen as a way to make some money in a country where almost 39% of citizens are reported to live below the poverty line.

“I became a scammer in the year 2016, and it was all because I wanted to make more money,” he says. “Growing up as a Nigerian, we know everything we need to know about scams even before starting it because it is very common here, and you just end up knowing someone that knows someone that does it. So, I did it all on my own. I didn’t involve anyone else.”

Some of those cons Maxwell was involved with included military romance, binary scams (a form of investment fraud), and hookup scams. The use of romantic intentions (known as “catfishing”) has been growing over the last few years and has inspired an MTV series and several Netflix series. In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission estimates that the United States lost more than $1.1 billion to this type of fraud. 

The goal for the scammer is to establish a personal connection and a sense of trust so that a victim is more willing to help by forking over some money.

For example, Maxwell says his biggest score was $30,000, which he obtained from a romance scam after contacting a woman on Facebook. The two continued exchanging messages, and she sent him thousands of dollars in payments and gift cards.

Online Targets

Social media has made these types of scams easier, and many Americans have likely experienced their own Facebook or Twitter accounts hacked for use in such schemes. The amount a scammer aims to obtain depends on the victim and what they believe the person on the other end of the phone, email, or chat is willing to part with. Grabbing a few bucks here and there can add up, and you can make a nice 9-to-5 when the average salary in Nigeria is only about $2,700.

“It depends on the victims. How much they have and how much they are willing to give can determine how big the operations are,” says Maxwell, who has since left that life behind and has now moved completely in the opposite direction.

The reformed scammer now works as a consultant and translator for Social Catfish, a California company that verifies online identities using reverse search technology. He is now out to educate others about what to watch for and how to avoid becoming victims.

The Aftermath of a Nigerian Scammer

After a career of stealing money, one ruse in 2021 changed his life and led him to abandon life as a fraudster for good. That same $30,000 victim realized that she was being defrauded and wanted to know who Maxwell was. That triggered something that many scammers don’t seem to possess – remorse.

“I couldn’t keep up with the lie, and I felt guilty because she became depressed and sick because of debt,” he says. “She couldn’t even get access to her grandkids because her kids wouldn’t let her unless she stopped talking to me. So I showed my face to her on a video call, and she cried and forgave me. She introduced me to Social Catfish, and that’s how I stopped scamming.

“I wanted to move in a different direction because I wouldn’t let someone do that to my mom, and I am also a human, and I have a conscience.”

Avoiding Victimhood

With so much experience on the other side of the keyboard, Maxwell is now offering tips for others to avoid becoming a target for fraudsters.

“I would advise that if you are talking to anyone online and you are not sure if they are telling the truth, you can just ask for a video call, he says. “That’s the only way you can talk to someone and be sure they are real. Anything aside from that is fake.”

Typographical and syntactical errors are also giveaways that everything may not be as it seems and may indicate that the person on the other end may not be a native speaker of the language they claim. 

“Most of these scammers are not educated, so they easily make mistakes,” Maxwell says.

As for romance scams, the former crook used a photo he found online of someone in the military to sweet-talk single women (especially mothers) from ages 30 to 65. He saw many lonely women become infatuated and could be persuaded to send money.

“Once they are attracted to that body, they become so vulnerable,” says Maxwell, who is now focused on making a good name for himself and his family.

The simple truth – don’t believe everything someone may be telling you and be leery of those who contact you out of the blue looking to be “friends.” P.T. Barnum once said: “There’s a sucker born every minute.” Christopher Maxwell is now hoping to do his part to reverse that trend.