While Peter Obi was dumping PDP today, One Mr. Scott was trying to scam me and my wife this afternoon.

So, I run short-lets in Lekki and last night I got a booking alert from Booking.com that Mr. Scott booked our 4-bedroom apartment for 30 nights at a rate of $180/night. So for 30days + tax, he was expected to pay $5,914 and check in today. Naturally, I was excited! Something in my head rang a bell… why did a single guest book a 4-bedroom apartment?

Anyway, shortly after the booking, Oga Scott sent me a message inquiring about the security of the apartment. Then he went further to say that this was his first visit to Naija and he wants us to arrange airport pickup. I told him we normally do not do airport pickups, but he said he will pay for the service when he arrives at the apartment. That we should please arrange it.

One thing to note, he hadn’t paid the $5,914. He just made a reservation online. He said he will pay at check-in. This is not unusual with booking.com. We have had multiple guests that reserved online and paid at check-in.

Shortly after our conversation, I sent him the details of the driver that will pick him up, I even sent him a picture of the driver. He said he was grateful and will land today by 1pm. Shortly after that, he sent me his itinerary. From his itinerary, I could see he was flying with Egypt Air.

This morning, the dude sent me a picture and said this is how he looks this morning. He said he was sending the picture so the driver will be able to easily identify him.

At 1:15pm, he buzzed me and said he just landed and was approaching immigration to process his visa on arrival.

45mins later, I got a call from my wife. She told me that Mr. Scott called her and said he has a problem with the immigration people at the airport.

What is the problem? I asked

“He needs to pay for his visa and do not have dollars or naira to pay for it.” My wife replied.

“He said they told him that he needs to change the currency he brought into dollars or Naira to pay for the visa fees.” My wife went on to explain

“let him go and change money naaaa”.. I queried

“He cannot leave the immigration area until he pays the visa fees.” She went on to explain.

“He is begging that we should assist him. I spoke with the immigration lady and she said we should transfer the naira to her, and she will process his visa. The lady just sent the account number” . my wife went on.

What is the guest saying? I asked.
He said that as soon as he leaves the immigration area, he will change money and pay us.

“Ok go ahead and make the transfer,” I said and dropped the call.
Immediately after I dropped the call, my brain exploded…. “IT’S A SCAM”

I quickly called back my wife … she picked on the first ring.

“Don’t pay a dime! It’s a scam.” I quickly told her. Luckily, she hadn’t made the transfer.

How do you know? she asked

How can you travel to Nigeria without a currency that our immigration people will accept? I replied

If it's his first time in Naija, someone invited him. Let him call the person for help.

Then through a friend, we contacted a contact inside the airport. Please go to passport control and see if there is anyone there with payment issues.

Oga there is no one here ooo. All the passengers have passed through!

Meanwhile, we called the immigration lady back, have you made the payment? She asked…

Where are you? we are sending someone inside the airport to resolve the situation. We said
We are in the immigration area; they won’t allow your person to come here.

Madam don’t worry, our person has access to the immigration area. ....and she cut the call.

We called madam back no response.
We called Mr. Scott no response.

And that was how Mr. Scott failed in trying to scam N68,000 from me today.

I am just wondering the number of people that were at the airport today to pick up Mr. Scott and then transferred 68k to Madam Immigration.

#copied