June 16, 2025

TNN Newspaper

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Scammer Defrauds Job Seeking Graduate

Edith CHUKU

The rate of unemployment in the oil rich Rivers State, has brought mayhem on some natives and residents of the state.

Some youths has fallen victims of kidnap, others robbed while hunting for jobs. There are ladies who has been raped at the venue of their supposed job interview, which was later discovered to be fake.

In the case of Mr. Igiri Nelson Joseph, he was dupped of N50,000.00 out of the N300,000 demanded by a certain Mr. Gorgo, who promised to help him get a driving job for his father at UPTH, which he claimed pays 200 thousand to starters.

The suspect who claimed to be a resident of Elelenwo in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, admitted the crime in an interview, affirming that, “I be scammer, yes I be scammer.”

Igiri who spoke with TNN on Monday, narrated that, “my name is Igiri Nelson Joseph, shockingly, it’s a true life story, it happened to me. This young man came to my office, pretending to be a customer who wants to patronize my office and want to have a contract deal with me.

“He came, made inquiries of my business area that he wants to use the banquet hall for certain events for a group of doctors in Rivers State chapter, claiming he is the chairman and all of that. Shockingly, his story was impressive. As a person, I want to improve my pro-activeness and impress my boss, meet prospective customers, connect with companies, to yield more increase.

“In my quest for this business deal to be actualized, I had to go extra mile, everything he asked me to do, I did. I heard him make series of calls of job opportunities. My dad is actually a retiree so I wanted him to get something doing because he is a professional driver, very certified.

“I spoke with him about my dad, he said no problem that he can help my dad. We fixed a date for our meeting, this person came in person not online discussion, he didn’t scam me online, he comes to my office, I offer him drinks.

“As we got discussing, the kind of money he was calling, I looked at the way he dressed it didn’t really represent who he introduced himself as, especially the association, though he speaks fluently but the look was terrible, the impression didn’t concur with his claim.

“He said they were going to sell the job opportunity, that there was a job in UPTH for a driver and the payment is N200,000 for starters but to get the job he will have to do some medicals which involves some money, he was quite convincing and that we had to buy the job opportunity for about 300 thousand, that we could pay installment. I had 50 thousand, he said I should send that one which I did for him to start while I sort for the balance to pay.

“Somehow, I was convinced he was a fraudster. He was shivering, uncomfortable, didn’t even want to wait for my dad to bring his passport. Immediately I asked for his ID card, let me know where exactly he works. The first thing he said was are you doubting me? I said no. He was unable to provide his passport, at that point I knew and had to alert people. I told him if he doesn’t confess I will arrest him, so he opened up.”

Worlu further appealed to those looking for job to, “know that the hardship in the country is biting seriously and a lot of people are ready to do anything to earn a living, please be careful. Be convinced before you venture.”

On his part, the suspect explained that, “I tell am say I get work for hotel wey I wan give am, while nothing like that.

“I convince am say em get work wey I wan give am, so him come call em father come. Him come give me N50,000, I come collect the money.

“Him don know say I scam am, na em him come say make I give am back em money. I from Elelenwo.”

When asked what he does for a living, he said, “I no go fit lie to you, I be scammer.”

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