Despite my confidence in my tech-savvy background and ability to spot scammers effortlessly, I soon realized that no one is immune to scams. That's right, anyone can fall victim to them. We can only try to avoid it by being smart and playing safe from things we ought not to do.
I once told a friend of mine that his Facebook account can be hacked by hackers if they're desperate, and he argued with me saying his account is well secured with all the provided security measures. I didn't go far; I just pointed at some instances, especially celebrities accounts getting hacked, and he got humbled.
We all have our weak points. If you're strong and knowledgeable in tech, a little boy of 7 years old can play you down with a trick off the tech space. A typical example of this is the people that go around town claiming they have diamonds in their bags and looking for places to sell them. You should know this trick by now.
Like I said earlier, I know the simple tricks scammers use online, so I can't be caught there. The one time I was almost caught was in the off-tech space.
Early morning on Thursday, while on my chair, resting my hand on my table, my phone rang, and it was my dad.
"Hello, Daddy, and good morning, sir."
"Good morning. I know you're fine. There's someone who called me...actually, a family member who works in an oil company in a neighbouring community. He asked about you and what you're doing currently, and I told him that you're yet to land a job. He said there's a slot for him in the company, and he would like to give it to me because I've been good to him. So, he asked for your phone number, which I gave to him for you guys to talk well and know how to go about the submission of certificates. Be expecting his call."
My dad said all these in a very fast manner, and I noticed he doesn't have airtime. I had to end the call and call him back.
"I've heard you, but this looks like a scam. It's very rare for someone to suddenly call to offer such slot. You said you know the man; how well?"
"Ooh! This is someone that I know."
He went on to describe the person which made me end in the centre of conviction.
Immediately after we ended the call, an unsaved number called, which I sensed was the man, and yes, it was him. We talked very well in our local dialect, and we ended up agreeing on the deal, and I must come over to the company (in a different city) with my files to meet him for the processing of details.
Guys! I was well convinced; the salary was so tempting, and the field of work suited what I studied in school. I quickly rushed into the bathroom, and just as I was about to turn on the shower, my phone beeped again—it was my dad.
"Hello, we've talked, and I'm arranging my stuff to do as he said." I said as I picked the call
"Okay, please try and be quick because he just called again and said we should hurry up before his colleagues in the office smartly take his slot." He said, and my preparation got triggered. I took my shower in a gify, brought out my files, and as I was selecting them, my phone beeped again. When I checked, it was the same man.
I answered the call; he told me to hurry and also asked if I had a medical certificate. I told him I had the one I was given in school. He said that can't be used; I should come, and I'll be given there(in the company) with just N4,000.
Omo! That was it.
"Hello sir, I must commend your skill. You're very good at this. You could have succeeded in making me come and meet you in your office if you hadn't mentioned this money. Why did you say that now? You just missed your fish. Eyaaaah! Sorry eeeh!"
I said it in a very calm, relaxed, and mature voice.
And his response was so funny: "You, this small boy, carry your wahala and go." He ended the call and blocked me from reaching him.
I had to quickly call my dad, told him the outcome, and begged him to always reach out to me first whenever he sees something like this in my siblings' lives.
Thanks for reading
Image used is mine
This is my entry to the Week 85, Edition 02 of the Weekly Featured contest in Hive Learners Community.
