SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
SCARS™ Scam Basics: A Taxonomy
There Are A Lot Of Different Words Or Terms Used To Describe Different Kinds Of People Involved In Romance Scams!
WARNING: SOME OF THESE TERMS USED BY NIGERIAN AND OTHER SCAMMERS ARE OFFENSIVE – DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Here Is A Guide To The Meaning Of Many Of Those Terms (A Taxonomy)
TERMS FOR THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SCAMS:
- ACCESSORY (SUPPORTER): someone in the victim’s own country working with the scammer – may collect money but is not a mule
- AJE BUTTER [SCAMMER SLANG]: rich spoiled person – rich victim or rich scammer
- AKATA [SCAMMER SLANG]: white man – also called COLONIZER
- AMEBO [SCAMMER SLANG]: backbiter/rumor-monger
- ANTI-SCAM GROUP: a group of people involved in helping to expose scammer or educate the public – usually amateurs /nonprofessional – most do more harm to victims
- ANTI-SCAM HATE GROUP: an amateur group pretending to be experts in scams and scamming that focuses on hate for scammers
- ARISTO [SCAMMER SLANG]: Yahoo Boys that like young girls (underage or teens)
- BADDO [SCAMMER SLANG]: is another word for ‘Bad Guy’ used to describe how good a scammer is at a particular thing – ironically, is also a major dating website
- CATCHER [SCAMMER SLANG]: a scammer who makes the first contact with a victim and then start to pass them onto another scammer who finishes the job/closes
- CHOP COCKROACH [SCAMMER SLANG]: pregnant Yahoo girl – used in rituals
- CHURCH MEMBER [SCAMMER SLANG]: This is a word commonly used by FRAT BOYS/CULTISTS/RITUALISTS
- CLIENT [SCAMMER SLANG]: a victim being groomed by a scammer
- COACH [SCAMMER SLANG]: a scammer trainer
- COLONIZER [SCAMMER SLANG]: white man
- CULTISTS: involved in Yahoo Yahoo rituals
- FLASH BOY [SCAMMER SLANG]: a successful scammer that shows their wealth
- FRAT BOYS [SCAMMER SLANG]: involved in Yahoo Yahoo rituals
- FRAUD BOY [SCAMMER SLANG]: can mean a Yahoo Boy, GBoy, or Sakawa Boy – but is used more for non-internet actors
- FRAUDSTER: the cybercriminals themselves
- G BOY [SCAMMER SLANG]: equivalent and slightly more modern that ‘Yahoo Yahoo boys’
- GBEBORUN [SCAMMER SLANG]: backbiter/rumor-monger also called
- GUY [SCAMMER SLANG]: scammer engaged in advance fee fraud
- GUYMAN [SCAMMER SLANG]: scammer engaged in advance fee fraud
- JEW [SCAMMER SLANG]: non-cultist/non-ritualist
- JONES [SCAMMER SLANG]: means someone or a group are not being smart – also means the speaker is talking about someone not seizing the opportunity where he or she ought to (as in a scam)
- KELE [SCAMMER SLANG]: young woman
- LIMPET: a scammer that attaches to a victim’s family and friends but remains quiet
- MAGA [SCAMMER SLANG]: fool / victim
- MAHEE [SCAMMER SLANG]: victim of advance fee fraud / scam
- MAHI [SCAMMER SLANG]: victim of advance fee fraud / scam
- MAYE [SCAMMER SLANG]: fool / victim
- MAYEE [SCAMMER SLANG]: victim of advance fee fraud / scam
- MAYI [SCAMMER SLANG]: victim of advance fee fraud / scam
- MOMSY [SCAMMER SLANG]: an informal word for mother or elderly woman (can be victim or not)
- MOLE: a victim who is helping a scammer – may or may not be aware they are part of the scam
- MUGU [SCAMMER SLANG]: fool / victim
- MUGUN [SCAMMER SLANG]: victim of advance fee fraud / scam
- MULE: a victim that receives stolen property from other victims – usually does not are involved in scam / crime
- NATIONAL CENTER FOR VICTIMS OF CRIMES: a public / private partnership with the United States Department of Justice to register crime victims’ assistance organizations (SCARS is registered with the NCVC)
- O’BOY [SCAMMER SLANG]: friend who knows scammer is scamming
- OGA [SCAMMER SLANG]: boss
- O’GIRL [SCAMMER SLANG]: girlfriend who knows scammer is scamming
- PARTNER: another scammer to ask as the fictitious lawyer, doctor or another person to reinforce the scam
- PLUCKER: local money courier picks up money from transfer agent
- POPSY [SCAMMER SLANG]: an informal word for father or elderly man (can be victim or not)
- RITUALISTS: involved in Yahoo Yahoo rituals
- RUNNER [SCAMMER SLANG]: local money courier picks up money from transfer agent
- SAKAWA BOY [SCAMMER SLANG]: Ghana scammer that is involved in Sakawa rituals
- SCAMMER: the cyber criminal themselves
- SCARS: the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scam Inc. a registered professional victims’ assistance, education, and advocacy nongovernmental organization
- SCRIPTWRITER: someone that writes scripts for scammers to follow
- SUGAR MUMMY [SCAMMER SLANG]: an older woman in a relationship / scam
- TEY TEY [SCAMMER SLANG]: old victim comes back after long delay
- TUSH [SCAMMER SLANG]: A refined well-educated scammer
- VICTIMS’ ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION: an incorporate organization – usually a tax exempt nonprofit that provides professional assistance / advocacy to victims of crimes
- VICTIMS’ ASSISTANCE PROFESSIONAL: a professional specifically trained and involved in providing assistance to crime victims – most are certified and work for Victims’ Assistance Organizations
- YAHOO BOY [SCAMMER SLANG]: Nigerian style scammer
- YAHOO MILLIONAIRES [SCAMMER SLANG]: very successful Yahoo Boys
- YAHOO YAHOO [SCAMMER SLANG]: internet scammers that have gone into JuJu rituals
TERMS FOR RELATED PLACES OR ACTIVITIES ONLINE:
- ANYSCAM.COM: a universal cybercrime data reporting network developed by SCARS to distribute scam and scammer data worldwide to agencies and governments
- SCAM BAITING: where a victim or other person uses the methods of the scammers against them – meaning they engage in online deception and fraud
- SUPPORT GROUP: a professionally managed peer to peer support group run by a victims’ assistance organization or their affiliate
- VICTIM MINE: a scammer created website or social media page/group that victims willingly follow and participate allowing access to victims that can be scammed over and over
- VICTIM WAREHOUSE: fake or pretender or amateur anti-scam group / website / social media page where victims go to / join / stay not knowing any better – preventing themselves access to real help / support / assistance
SCAM ACTIVITY TERMS:
- AKWUKWO [SCAMMER SLANG]: fake check
- BILL [SCAMMER SLANG]: the amount a scammer plans to take out from his victim
- CAST [SCAMMER SLANG]: means something is now available to everyone and no longer a secret / shared victim / sold victim
- CHEKERE [SCAMMER SLANG]: fake check
- EGO [SCAMMER SLANG]: money from a scam / from a victim
- EKE DON CARRY AM [SCAMMER SLANG]: police have arrested him
- FALL HAND [SCAMMER SLANG]: means did not disappoint / victim paid
- FALL MUGU / TO FALL MUGU [SCAMMER SLANG]: to be fooled and to become a victim of a scam
- FLASH OF ACCOUNT [SCAMMER SLANG]: causes the victim’s bank account to provisionally show a large credit – this is intended to persuade the victim to believe in the deal and send money. the credit gets overturned by the bank when it is discovered that the actual check or electronic transfer was fraudulent – bounces
- FORMAT [SCAMMER SLANG]: the scheme or script of an advance fee fraud, e.g., “the late dictator format” (the 419 scammer pretends to be a relative of a dictator, e.g. Miriam Abacha, “wife” of Sani Abacha), the next of kin plan, the lottery format
- FROZEN [SCAMMER SLANG]: a victim that has run out of money
- GBE JA [SCAMMER SLANG]: run away / victim ran away
- GUCK [SCAMMER SLANG]: sleep, believe a lie
- HAMMER [SCAMMER SLANG]: strike rich / rich victim
- I GO CHANGE AM FOR YOU [SCAMMER SLANG]: words of warning or threat
- LALAS [SCAMMER SLANG]: money from a scam / from a victim
- NO DULLING [SCAMMER SLANG]: don’t prolong things with the victim
- PACKAGE [SCAMMER SLANG]: means an ongoing situation / scam
- PAROLE [SCAMMER SLANG]: means an ongoing situation / scam
- PEPPER [SCAMMER SLANG]: fake check
- PEPPER DON READ [SCAMMER SLANG]: means the person’s luck has changed and the person is richer than expected
- RUMBLE [SCAMMER SLANG]: (Recruitment of Unwitting Money-launderers by Bogus Letters of Employment), which is part of the overpayment scam
- SHUGABA [SCAMMER SLANG]: to be expelled from a gang
- SHOW [SCAMMER SLANG]: money from a scam / from a victim
- WOZAM SLAP [SCAMMER SLANG]: slap or threaten a victim
MODERN NIGERIAN/WEST AFRICAN SCAMMER SLANG:
- ABI: right (as in “exactly, right?”)
- ALL JOIN: collective item or group of things – means everything is included.
- AM: him/her/it
- ARO: funny person
- AWOOF: free things
- BAFFS: designer clothes
- BAFF UP: nicely dressed
- BAKASSI/IKEBE: booty
- BLACK MARIA: slang for prison van
- BURST MY HEAD/BRAIN: this means the speaker is impressed
- CHAO: eat (as in chow)
- CODED: to keep a low profile/keeping a secret
- COMOT: leave
- CRASH: sleep
- DEM: them/they
- DOMOT: entrance/vicinity
- DOPE: used to describe how good something is
- E/IM: he/she/it
- FASHI AM: forget about it
- ITK: all those “overserious” people – ITK stands for “I Too Know”
- JACK: to read or read something
- JAND: UK
- KAK: sit
- KAKA: butt/shite
- KPAI: die/kill
- KUSH: weed/marijuana
- LIKE PLAY LIKE PLAY: joke / jokingly
- LOW KEY: similar to ‘Coded’ but ‘Low Key’ isn’t necessarily a secret.
- MUD: die/kill
- NACK: hit
- OKADA: motorcycle
- PAM: chill out/patient
- PECHE: chillout
- RUNS: try to do things the bad way / tends to be used to denote illegal or immoral activities
- SABI: to know
- SHEY?: is that right?
- STRAFF/FRAP/PRAK: sex
- SWAG: this is used to represent another scammer’s style
- TEY (TEY TEY): long time (ago)
- TROWAY: waste/throw away
- UP-FRONT: the up-front money asked for in a scam to protect the involvement in their transaction. Hence the name “advanced fee fraud”
- WAHALLA: trouble
- WAKA: travel/go/walk away
- WETIN: what? ask a question
- WOZA: slap
- WOZAM SLAP: give him a slap
- YANKEE: US
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SCARS™ Team
A SCARS Division
Miami Florida U.S.A.
TAGS: SCARS, Important Article, Information About Scams, Anti-Scam, Terms, Definitions, Taxonomy, Beastiary, Scammer Slang, Yahoo Boy, GBoy, Sakawa Boy
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FAQ: How Do You Properly Report Scammers?
It is essential that law enforcement knows about scams & scammers, even though there is nothing (in most cases) that they can do.
Always report scams involving money lost or where you received money to:
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- Your National Police or FBI « www.IC3.gov »
- The SCARS|CDN™ Cybercriminal Data Network – Worldwide Reporting Network « HERE » or on « www.Anyscam.com »
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Table of Contents
- There Are A Lot Of Different Words Or Terms Used To Describe Different Kinds Of People Involved In Romance Scams!
- TERMS FOR THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SCAMS:
- TERMS FOR RELATED PLACES OR ACTIVITIES ONLINE:
- SCAM ACTIVITY TERMS:
- MODERN NIGERIAN/WEST AFRICAN SCAMMER SLANG:
- The Latest SCARS|RSN Posts
- New AI Voice Cloning Phone Scams – 2026
- An Essay on Justice and Money Recovery – 2026
- Virtual Kidnapping & Extortion – Proof of Life Images or Videos – 2026
- Fake Money Recovery Law Firms – 2026
- Money Laundering Drop Accounts – 2026
- 7 Deadly Sins of Post Scam Victim Vulnerability – 2023 UPDATED 2026
Rapid Report Scammers
In the U.S. & Canada
U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
SCARS Institute articles examine different aspects of the scam victim experience, as well as those who may have been secondary victims. This work focuses on understanding victimization through the science of victimology, including common psychological and behavioral responses. The purpose is to help victims and survivors understand why these crimes occurred, reduce shame and self-blame, strengthen recovery programs and victim opportunities, and lower the risk of future victimization.
At times, these discussions may sound uncomfortable, overwhelming, or may be mistaken for blame. They are not. Scam victims are never blamed. Our goal is to explain the mechanisms of deception and the human responses that scammers exploit, and the processes that occur after the scam ends, so victims can better understand what happened to them and why it felt convincing at the time, and what the path looks like going forward.
Articles that address the psychology, neurology, physiology, and other characteristics of scams and the victim experience recognize that all people share cognitive and emotional traits that can be manipulated under the right conditions. These characteristics are not flaws. They are normal human functions that criminals deliberately exploit. Victims typically have little awareness of these mechanisms while a scam is unfolding and a very limited ability to control them. Awareness often comes only after the harm has occurred.
By explaining these processes, these articles help victims make sense of their experiences, understand common post-scam reactions, and identify ways to protect themselves moving forward. This knowledge supports recovery by replacing confusion and self-blame with clarity, context, and self-compassion.
Additional educational material on these topics is available at ScamPsychology.org – ScamsNOW.com and other SCARS Institute websites.
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
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