Insecurity is everywhere. The cyberspace has one of the worst insecurities for humann in this time. As much as I can attribute this to the high rate of unemployment globally, greed on the side of some individuals have made them take advantage of the openings in cyberspace to carry out their nefarious acts. It is very consequential than what we know. Recently, a close retire was a victim of cyber insecurity. His case was that of a man who wanted to reap where he didn't sow. You know, I laughed at him the this came up because I felt he lost his act as a Nigerian to fall prey to cheap internet fraudsters.
At 3:00am on Sunday mienunh when he woke up to prepare for church service. He wanted to prepare but needed to check what was boggling on the internet, then came a message.
Good morning Chika. Your apple laptop and phones has been sent through a courier service to Lagos. In less than twelve hours, the courier agent will reach you to pick up your gift items.
My cousin was so happy to the bone that he thought that was a mistaken identity that could pay off. He seldom expected a call and the call came though as a message.
A WhatsApp message came in with a video showing how the good were bought at a shop in Canada and packed in a logistic company for onward movement to Nigeria. This singular poser made my cousin that he would finally be a proud owner of am apple laptop and iPhone.
Mr Chika, your package from Quebec, Canada has arrived Lagos. Please, call the phone number to below to pick up your package.
Chika did not hesitate. He swung into action almost immediately and the other number. He was surprised at what he heard.
Sir, your goods were not part of what we received at our Lagos office. We discovered it was part of what was pushed to our Abuja office.
He asked, almostesiayely how he could get the package and was asked to pay for logistics. The whole amount was amounting to about $120 which was still preferable to him compared to the value of gifts that are coming. He was asked to end his home address and phone number where he would want the package to be delivered to him.
My cousin did he was required as phone contacts were exchanged but as soon as he sent the money, problem started. Funny enough, it was his last savings that was used to request for the movement of the invisible package.
Eight hours after the transaction was made all the phone numbers that had been reaching my cousin became not reachable or switched-off. It was at his confusion that he contact me. I laughed so hard and asked him to forget about the only that he had any to the fraudsters. The Facebook contact through which the conversation had started also blocked him. That was the last straw that broke the camel back.
After all these, my cousin swore never to have any deal on the internet anymore, no matter how genuine it may appear to be.
Unsuspecting and naive individuals who do not know how these fraudsters operate could fall cheaply for their gimmicks. Though, I am aware that the government, through the law enforcement agencies are doing everything within the armbit of the law to clamp down on fraudsters but if you asked me, there had been more lip service to the whole scenario than what it ought to be in reality.