Inside Nigeria’s Dark TikTok Market Where Charms Are Sold to Internet Fraudsters

A disturbing trend is unfolding on Nigerian social media, where spiritual charms are being marketed openly to internet fraudsters. A recent investigation uncovered how a vendor identified as Ogunsona Olaitan Victoria, popularly known by her business name Aphrodisiacs by OlaXash, has turned TikTok and Instagram into marketplaces for products she claims can help so-called “Yahoo boys” or “G-guys” succeed in cyber fraud.

Olaitan, who hails from Ondo town and began selling herbal and aphrodisiac products in 2021 while a student at Adekunle Ajasin University, registered her business officially in August 2023. Her online stores now focus heavily on charms such as *Oshole* and *Ghost Client Soap*. These items are advertised as spiritual fortifications that allegedly attract wealthy victims, secure fraudulent “updates,” and shield fraudsters from failure. The language in her videos and posts is coded but unmistakably directed at people engaged in internet scams.

The product range is extensive. *Oshole* charms come in several variants — black, blue, yellow, “7-in-1 white,” and “ebu.” A first-time user is required to purchase a curse-breaker soap for about N13,000 to “clear” spiritual obstacles before using other items. Starter kits are priced between N43,000 and N68,000. Regular *Oshole* products range from N110,000 to N250,000, while the more advanced *Ghost Client Soap* costs between N320,000 and N400,000. Usage instructions are highly ritualistic. Buyers are told to bathe with the charms at night, avoid sexual activity for several days, remain indoors after use, or wait until the end of a menstrual period. They are also encouraged to speak affirmations while applying the soaps, suggesting a mix of traditional beliefs and modern cybercrime aspirations.

Her online presence is far from hidden. As of July this year, her TikTok account had more than 8,300 followers and over 102,000 reactions, while her Instagram page was filled with screenshots and testimonials from supposed clients. She is not alone in the trade. At least 22 other TikTok accounts were found to be selling similar charms, with some attracting tens of thousands of followers. The activity extends beyond Nigeria’s borders, confirming that this trade has gained international reach.

Despite the bold marketing, skepticism runs deep. Many young people who have bought the charms express regret, admitting that the promises rarely match reality. A former fraudster disclosed spending over N100,000 on spiritualists without any success, while a university student confessed to wasting significant amounts on similar products. Comment threads on TikTok videos are also filled with users mocking the sellers and warning others not to waste their money.

The phenomenon raises serious legal and social concerns. Under Nigeria’s Criminal Code, the possession or sale of charms intended to facilitate wrongdoing is an offence. Legal experts also point to the Cybercrimes (Prohibition) Act, which makes anyone aiding or abetting fraud — including charm vendors — liable for prosecution. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has acknowledged awareness of these activities and warns that spiritualists or merchants who support fraudsters can be investigated and prosecuted.

Observers argue that enforcement needs to be more proactive. Social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are being urged to strengthen their content moderation policies and crack down on accounts promoting fraudulent charms. Screenshots, videos, and testimonials, experts suggest, provide sufficient evidence for law enforcement agencies to build cases. Without such action, the growing normalisation of these practices threatens to deepen Nigeria’s struggles with cybercrime.

Beyond legality, the trade of charms for internet fraudsters damages Nigeria’s global image and preys on vulnerable youth. It drains young people of money that could be put to constructive use and lures them further into criminality with false promises of wealth. For every seller claiming to offer shortcuts to success, there are countless disappointed buyers who realise too late that the only guaranteed outcome is financial loss.