Abuja Trader Exposes Elderly Man’s ₦2.08 Million Fake Transfer Scam Attempt — Sparks Outrage and Laughter Online

A Nigerian shop owner at Zini Sherif Plaza in Abuja has recounted how an elderly man nearly succeeded in a ₦2.085 million fake bank transfer scam before being exposed — reigniting public anger over the rising wave of financial fraud targeting small businesses.

According to the trader’s viral thread, the elderly man arrived at the shop accompanied by a security guard, pretending to make a large purchase. After selecting the goods, he presented what appeared to be a successful mobile bank transfer alert to the seller.

However, when the shop owner cross-checked the account, no payment had been received. The confrontation that followed drew attention across the plaza, forcing the suspect to drop his “church man” persona and plead for leniency as security detained him.

The incident spotlights a growing crisis of fake alert scams — where fraudsters generate doctored transaction receipts or SMS notifications to deceive unsuspecting merchants. Data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) reveals that in Q2 2024 alone, Nigerian banks and customers lost over ₦42.6 billion to such fraudulent activities, with small business owners bearing the brunt due to limited verification tools.

Replies to the trader’s post captured both outrage and irony. While many users condemned the scam and urged swift police prosecution, others poked fun at the suspect’s defense, quoting him allegedly shouting, “I’m a Jesus man!” as he was confronted — a phrase that has since turned into a trending meme on X.

Some commenters also shared similar experiences, lamenting how “fake transfer boys” exploit sellers’ trust, especially during busy market hours. Others called for the Central Bank and fintechs to strengthen real-time verification systems to protect businesses from the growing menace.

The viral post has since drawn hundreds of reactions, painting a vivid picture of how digital fraud continues to erode trust in Nigeria’s cashless economy — where even an elderly face can no longer be taken at face value.

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