Safety Nets: Spot & Stop Fraud, Scams, & Manipulation

  Quick Links: A Familiar Scenario What is Due Diligence? Does Time Truly Run Out? How To Use Due Diligence To Defeat Scammers Frequently Asked Questions A Familiar Scenario Here's an anonymous scam sting submitted to our scam awareness  Tell Your Story  portal: This happened to me in late November 2025. For long I couldn't tell anyone about it, because it hurt so much, but now I think I can talk about it. I can now tell myself the truth because if I had been careful I would not have been duped. This is what happened. I received this alert claiming to be from my bank and at a glance it all looked genuine: "Someone just tried to sneak into your account. Click this link to get help to save your funds. Time is running out, they may succeed next time." Thinking it was legitimate, I panicked and clicked the link. Next thing I knew I found myself on a site where I was asked to confirm my bank details. I complied because I thought I was protecting my account. I didn't kn...

  Quick Links: I Am Too Smart To Be Scammed Effects Of Feeling Too Smart To Be Scammed How To Protect Yourself Frequently Asked Questions I Am Too Smart To Be Scammed Are these your thoughts? "I am too smart to fall for scam"  It's exactly what scammers want you to think. The more you indulge in self-delusion the greater opportunity you give them to succeed in their plans against you. Let’s be honest about this. Perhaps you've said repeatedly that you are simply not  "the type that falls for scam."  Maybe you have managed to convince yourself that "Only gullible people get caught." Don't worry, I know exactly what angle you are coming from. You believe you’ve been careful all your  life. You read emails and you don’t click weird links. Besides, you have never been duped before. Can I burst your bubble? Here’s the hard truth: that kind of thinking is exactly what scammers are counting on to scapegoat you. As a matter of fact, what you are romanc...

    Quick Links: Understanding Guilt Tripping How It Is Done   Its Effects 7 Practical Steps To Escape Guilt-Tripping Frequently Asked Questions Understanding Guilt Tripping Have you ever been guilt-tripped? If true, then you know exactly how it feels. If not, you need to protect yourself through essential knowledge of what it is and how it runs. Irrespective of which side you belong, this Safety Nets: Spot & Stop Fraud, Scams, & Manipulation article will be an eye opener and remedies bundle for you. Guilt-tripping  is a manipulative tactic. It can sometimes be an innocent emotional expression from someone who feels hurt, disappointed, or aggrieved, but most often it is a deliberate and calculated act. It means when  somebody says things to force you to feel guilty, regretful, remorseful, ashamed, or obligated, in order to emotionally manipulate you to do what they want.  For example, rather than saying   “Please help me,”  they may s...

  Quick Links: What Is a Fake Authority Pressure Scam? Features of Fake Authority Pressure Scams How To Recognize and Identify Fake Authority Figures What You Should To Save Yourself Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Fake Authority Pressure Scam? Have you ever been at the receiving end of fake authority pressure scam? A distant friend once told me how he was forced to pay a "fee" to a guy in an "official-looking" outfit.   According to him, he was already set to go out on a sunny afternoon when he heard loud bangs on his apartment door.   When he opened it, he saw the  man in uniform standing outside his doorstep, wearing an aggressive expression and pointing a piece of paper at him. "Am from Sanitation office. You have to pay fine for this sanitation offence ticket, or we see in court meaning you pay higher or may even go to jail. The choice is yours." My friend was confused and perplexed all at once. He looked at the guy's uniform and, even though...

      Quick Links: Understanding Emotional Grooming The Red Flags Emotional Grooming: 10 Ways Out Frequently Asked Questions Understanding Emotional Grooming Have you heard of emotional grooming scams? No, I’m not talking about the terrible crime criminals use to abuse kids. That’s different. Security forces like FBI, Police, EFCC, and other specialised agencies are on ground to handle that. I’m talking about scams, where a fraudster slowly becomes your “friend”, “lover”, or “mentor” online. At first, they’re sweet. They listen. They care. You start to trust them. Then boom! Once you trust them, they ask for money, your bank details, or other sensitive confidential information. It feels personal because they shower you with attention.  That’s why even smart people get caught. That’s why I wrote this article in  Safety Nets: Spot & Stop Fraud, Scams, & Manipulation,  so that you can see what's coming before you get hurt. The Red Flags Nothing can esc...

    If you’ve been shopping online without getting nailed, thank God for you.  But you still need this article.  I’m just opening your eyes to potholes, so you don’t fall later. What if you’re new to buying from Instagram or WhatsApp vendors?  Then you need these safety nets even more. Scammers are waiting. I know most of you think that social media marketplaces are easy, fast, and safe.  However, let me be honest with you - that’s not always the case. Here’s the bitter truth: if you shop carelessly, you will lose two things:  money to fraudsters, and your self-confidence.  One bad experience is all it takes to make you scared of ever clicking “Buy Now” again. A global proverb says, “Once bitten, twice shy.”  It means if you’ve been hurt once, you’ll be extra careful next time so it doesn’t happen again. But do you really have to wait and get bitten first? I don’t think so. That’s why I put this article together in  Safety Nets: Spot ...