I was once cheated

It is always painful to be cheated, the feeling that comes after realizing that you have just being be cheated can be so frustrating. I think 70% of us have been cheated on or have cheated in one way or another.

Living in Lagos, where everyone is trying to prove smart, where smartness seems like the only way to greatness, it is hard for someone not to fall victim. There are many ways where one can be cheated; transportation, buying of goods, queues.. etc.

I have been cheated many times in terms of transportation, especially if I am not familiar with the place. If I decided to take a bike, they will charge more, only for me to find out that it is more like a stone's throw. Ever since then, I tend to act like I know the place so I would not be exploited.

I think the main reason why people cheat is because they feel smart, they feel like they are in a position to take advantage of someone, and sometimes people feel like it is the only way or the easiest way to excellence.

Although I have been cheated on before in several cases there is this one that I felt really pained. There was an event coming up, I was so excited about; the seminar, the form registration, and the party.

I thought this was free, until I was told that we have to pay for it, at first I was so skeptical because I expected it to be a free program. I was told to pay 8k. But then I wonder what if I didn’t pay what would go wrong.

So I made inquiries on that. I was told that 8k will give you a full package like access to a hall, well organize structure, and a guaranteed form, also they would be having a party after the program that would come with food, drinks, and gifts. On the other hand, those that don’t pay would be asked to queue outside and they would be given the form which might not reach them

I believed what I was told, and I paid the money. I was part of the first set to pay the money because I don’t want to spend it and I just basically wanted everything settled.

On the day of the events. We were led to the hall, it was not bad, at least I was beginning to see the value of my money. Until I saw my friends-two of them-, I was quite surprised that they were in the hall because they didn’t pay, they said they had no money to pay. So I asked if they actually still paid, and they said they didn’t.

At this point, I never really felt that was being cheated, I just thought that they just let them in. After the program, they were also allowed in the party, they were given gifts and food just like they gave us.

I was so pissed that I just paid the money for nothing, I was even more pissed when I found out that about 80% of them didn’t pay. I then spoke to one of officiates, they said it was already sponsored and whosoever collected the money from me, was collecting it in their pocket.

I was pained but there was really nothing else to be done, I just let it go and make sure the mistake won’t repeat itself.