“I Still Love Nigerian Men,” Says American Woman After Repeatedly Falling Victim to Romance Scams

An American woman has shared her experience of falling victim to two Nigerian scammers, commonly known as “Yahoo boys,” who duped her out of a significant amount of money through romance scams. Despite her painful experiences, she expressed her continued admiration for Nigerian men, calling them “the sexiest and most handsome men on this planet.”

In a viral video shared on Sunday, the woman revealed that she first encountered one of the scammers on TikTok in 2020. She explained that over the course of ten months, she was constantly asked for more money, until she eventually became suspicious. Her doubts were confirmed when the scammer accidentally called her using a Nigerian phone number, which he tried to cover up by claiming it was his friend’s number. The man later admitted to her that he was about to marry his Nigerian girlfriend, and she wished them well, despite the betrayal.

In a second case, the woman was deceived by another young man who presented himself as a student needing money to care for his sick mother. After a year, the man confessed that he had been using a false identity to get money, but thanked her for helping his mother recover by paying her medical bills. Although the second experience hurt less because she believed the money went toward a good cause, the woman was still left financially damaged by both scams.

Despite the emotional toll, she stated that her love for Nigerian men remains unchanged. “I still have love for the Nigerian people,” she said, acknowledging the struggles faced by many in both Nigeria and the U.S. She urged women to be cautious and avoid falling for scams, which she now recognizes as common.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria has been actively combating internet fraud. In May 2023, the EFCC announced that it had secured over 3,000 convictions and recovered significant sums, including over N156 billion, between May 2023 and May 2024. However, the commission remains concerned about the growing involvement of young people in cybercrime, with hundreds of suspects arrested each month. Despite these efforts, the problem continues to challenge both Nigerian authorities and international communities.