From WhatsApp To Ruin: Inside Nigeria’s Growing Remote Job Scam Crisis
“THE PROMISE OF EASY MONEY”
A Message That Changed Everything
“IT was just a message. One simple message.”
That is how Kolawole Ariba (not his real name) still begins the story of how he lost nearly ₦600,000 to an online task-based job scam. The father of two remembers the date vividly—21 February 2025—the day realisation hit that the money he hoped would secure his family’s future was gone.
A month earlier, Ariba had received a WhatsApp message from an unfamiliar international number. The sender offered a remote job that involved “simple online tasks” such as subscribing to YouTube pages and reviewing products for a popular marketing brand.
“At first, I ignored it,” Ariba said. “But things are hard. Jobs are scarce. You see people making money online every day. So I replied.”
‘They Paid Me First’
Like many victims, Ariba’s doubts faded after the first task. He was asked to subscribe to a YouTube page, send a screenshot, and provide his account details. Within minutes, ₦3,000 landed in his bank account.
“That was what convinced me,” he said. “They paid me. So how could it be a scam?”
The conversation soon moved from WhatsApp to Telegram. The woman who contacted him identified herself as “Alade Juliet” and claimed to work with a large marketing brand that paid people for remote engagement tasks.
For days, Ariba completed minor tasks and got paid small sums. Then came the real hook: a “higher-paying scheme” that required him to invest “welfare funds” to unlock salaries.
“She showed me screenshots of people they had paid,” he recalled. “I was still doubting, but they had paid me before. That was my mistake.”
When the Demands Increased
To activate the scheme, Ariba was asked to send ₦25,000 within 10 minutes. He complied. Soon, more payments followed—each one justified as necessary to unlock higher earnings.
By the time the scam ended, Ariba had transferred ₦600,000 to accounts bearing different names.
“On that day, she just blocked me,” he said quietly. “WhatsApp, Telegram—everything.”
‘The Shame Is Worse Than the Loss’
For Ariba, the pain was not just financial.
“The money I should have spent on my family, I spent on this scam,” he said. “Even when my mind was warning me, I ignored it. I still haven’t told people. The shame is heavy.”
Across Nigeria, thousands share similar stories. Task-based job scams—once rare—have exploded in recent years, feeding on unemployment, underemployment, and the promise of flexible online income.
‘It Looked Like Legit Work’
On X (formerly Twitter), user Agu Nwanyi.Tigress shared how she lost ₦3.1 million to a task platform posing as a partner of a well-known online marketplace.
“Most of the money was borrowed,” she wrote. “The shame made me isolate myself.”
Another user, Tobi the Cleaner Girl, later alleged that she loaned Agu Nwanyi ₦2 million, which was also lost to the scheme—illustrating how the damage often spreads beyond the initial victim.
How the Scam Works, According to Victims
Raphael Silas, a graphic designer in Port Harcourt, said the pattern is always the same.
“They ask you to like products or ‘optimise’ items. You see fake earnings increasing on their platform. Then they ask you to deposit your own money,” he explained.
Silas said Telegram groups play a key role. Scammers plant fake members who claim to be cashing out, reinforcing the illusion of legitimacy.
“Once greed or desperation takes over, you are trapped,” he said.
Borrowed Names, Fake Platforms
Several victims pointed to fake apps and websites with names closely resembling legitimate brands. One such platform, Payportepro, was designed to look like PayPorté, a well-known Nigerian fashion brand.
“They rely on small spelling differences,” said Seyi Oderinlo, a graduate who lost his savings. “Most people don’t notice until it’s too late.”
PayPorté has since issued a public warning, distancing itself from fraudulent job offers.
A Global Crime With Local Victims
Investigations reveal that these scams are not isolated Nigerian operations. Victims from the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa report identical experiences.
INTERPOL has linked many of these scams to international human trafficking rings, where trafficked individuals are forced to run scam operations from compounds in Southeast Asia and beyond.
According to an INTERPOL report, victims from 66 countries have been trafficked into scam centres since 2020.
Why People Keep Falling for It
Cybersecurity expert David Odes believes the problem is demand-driven.
“Many Nigerians are actively searching for easy online income,” he said. “These scams are designed to meet that expectation.”
Early payouts are strategic, he added. They lower suspicion and build trust.
“As long as people believe money can come from nothing, these scams will survive,” Odes warned.
‘If It Sounds Too Good…’
For Ariba, the lesson came at a high cost.
“If someone messages you with easy money, block them,” he said. “I learned the hard way.”
