Last Updated on September 5, 2020 by SCARS Editorial Team

SCARSSCARS SCARS - Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. A government registered crime victims' assistance & crime prevention nonprofit organization based in Miami, Florida, U.S.A. SCARS supports the victims of scams worldwide and through its partners in more than 60 countries around the world. Incorporated in 2015, its team has 30 years of continuous experience educating and supporting scam victims. Visit www.AgainstScams.org to learn more about SCARS.™ ScamScam A Scam is a confidence trick - a crime -  is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust through deception. Scams or confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, irresponsibility, or greed and exploiting that. Researchers have defined confidence tricks as "a distinctive species of fraudulent conduct ... intending to further voluntary exchanges that are not mutually beneficial", as they "benefit con operators ('con men' - criminals) at the expense of their victims (the 'marks')". A scam is a crime even if no money was lost. Basics: A Taxonomy

There Are A Lot Of Different Words Or Terms Used To Describe Different Kinds Of People Involved In Romance ScamsScams A Scam is a confidence trick - a crime -  is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust through deception. Scams or confidence tricks exploit victims using their credulity, naïveté, compassion, vanity, irresponsibility, or greed and exploiting that. Researchers have defined confidence tricks as "a distinctive species of fraudulent conduct ... intending to further voluntary exchanges that are not mutually beneficial", as they "benefit con operators ('con men' - criminals) at the expense of their victims (the 'marks')". A scam is a crime even if no money was lost.!

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 scammerScammer A Scammer or Fraudster is someone that engages in deception to obtain money or achieve another objective. They are criminals that attempt to deceive a victim into sending more or performing some other activity that benefits the scammer. – may collect money but is not a muleMule A money mule sometimes called a "smurfer," is a person who transfers money acquired illegally (e.g., stolen) in person, through a courier service, or electronically, on behalf of others (usually criminals that they are knowingly or unknowingly affiliated). Typically, the mule is paid for services with a small part of the money transferred - but not always. Mules may or may not be aware that they are performing these actions. Money mules are often dupes recruited online for what they think is legitimate employment, not aware that the money they are transferring is the product of crime. The money is transferred from the mule's account to the scam operator, typically in another country. Similar techniques are used to transfer illegal merchandise. Mules can be prosecuted for numerous crimes.
• 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
• FRAUDFraud In law, fraud is intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain (money or other assets), or to deprive a victim of a legal right. Fraud can violate civil law (e.g., a fraud victim may sue the fraud perpetrator to avoid the fraud or recover monetary compensation) or criminal law (e.g., a fraud perpetrator may be prosecuted and imprisoned by governmental authorities), or it may cause no loss of money, property, or legal right but still be an element of another civil or criminal wrong. The purpose of fraud may be monetary gain or other benefits, for example by obtaining a passport, travel document, or driver's license, or mortgage fraud, where the perpetrator may attempt to qualify for a mortgage by way of false statements. A fraud can also be a hoax, which is a distinct concept that involves deliberate deception without the intention of gain or of materially damaging or depriving a victim. BOY [SCAMMER SLANG]: can mean a Yahoo Boy, GBoy, or Sakawa Boy – but is used more for non-internet actors
• FRAUDSTERFraudster A Scammer or Fraudster is someone that engages in deception to obtain money or achieve another objective. They are criminals that attempt to deceive a victim into sending more or performing some other activity that benefits the scammer.: 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 fraudAdvance Fee Fraud An advance fee scam or fraud is a form of fraud and is one of the most common types of online confidence tricks. The scam typically involves promising the victim a significant share of a large sum of money, in return for a small up-front payment, which the fraudster claims will be used to obtain the large sum. If a victim makes the payment, the fraudster either invents a series of further fees for the victim or simply disappears.
• 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 criminalCriminal A criminal is any person who through a decision or act engages in a crime. This can be complicated, as many people break laws unknowingly, however, in our context, it is a person who makes a decision to engage in unlawful acts or to place themselves with others who do this. A criminal always has the ability to decide not to break the law, or if they initially engage in crime to stop doing it, but instead continues. themselves
• SCARS: the Society of Citizens Against Relationship ScamRelationship Scam A Relationship Scam is a one-to-one criminal act that involves a trust relationship and uses deception & manipulation to get a victim to give to the criminal something of value, such as money! Click here to learn more: What Is A 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 cybercrimeCybercrime Cybercrime is a crime related to technology, computers, and the Internet. Typical cybercrime are performed by a computer against a computer, or by a hacker using software to attack computers or networks. data reporting network developed by SCARS to distribute scam and scammer data worldwide to agencies and governments
• SCAM BAITINGScam Baiting A foolish activity where a victim or nonvictim engages in deception and fraud to lead on a scammer into revealing information or for the sport of it. Deliberate deception online, regardless of the reason, is both unethical and in many places may also be illegal. While not prosecuted, Scambaiting has no legitimate benefit and should never be performed by victims since it is an act of revenge and only amplifies trauma. It is a reprehensible practice that is popularized by amateur anti-scam groups driven by their hate for fraudsters. Learn more: SCARS Position Statement Against Scambaiting: where a victim or other person uses the methods of the scammers against them – meaning they engage in online deception and fraud
• SUPPORT GROUPSupport Group In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic, such as romance scams. Members with the same issues can come together for sharing coping strategies, to feel more empowered and for a sense of community. The help may take the form of providing and evaluating relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. A support group may also work to inform the public or engage in advocacy. They can be supervised or not. SCARS support groups are moderated by the SCARS Team and or volunteers.: a professionally managed peer to peer supportPeer support Peer support occurs when people provide knowledge, experience, emotional, social or practical help to each other. It commonly refers to an initiative consisting of trained supporters and can take a number of forms such as peer mentoring, reflective listening (reflecting content and/or feelings), or in a support group. Peer support is also used to refer to initiatives where colleagues, members of self-help organizations and others meet, in person or online, to give each other connection and support on a reciprocal basis. Peer support is distinct from other forms of social support in that the source of support is a peer, a person who is similar in fundamental ways to the recipient of the support; their relationship is one of equality. A peer is in a position to offer support by virtue of relevant experience: he or she has "been there, done that" and can relate to others who are now in a similar situation. Trained peer support workers such as SCARS Volunteers receive special training and may be required to obtain Continuing Education Units, similar to clinical staff. Some other trained peer support workers may also be law-enforcement personnel and firefighters as well as emergency medical responders. 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 419419 An advance fee scam or fraud (419 scam) is a form of fraud and is one of the most common types of online confidence tricks. The scam typically involves promising the victim a significant share of a large sum of money, in return for a small up-front payment, which the fraudster claims will be used to obtain the large sum. If a victim makes the payment, the fraudster either invents a series of further fees for the victim or simply disappears. The 419 comes from the Nigerian law against this type of scam. 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 gangGang A gang is normally a group or society of associated criminals with a defined leadership and internal organization that identifies with or claims control over a territory or business practice in a community and engages, either individually or collectively, in illegal, and possibly violent, behavior. Online gangs are not limited by territory and may operate side by side with other gangs while engaging in crime online. Some members of criminal gangs are initiated (by going through a process of initiation), or have to prove their loyalty and right to belong by committing certain acts, usually theft or violence, or rituals. Gangs are usually rougher and more visible than scammer cartels, and more often arrested.
• 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

PLEASE SHARE OUR ARTICLES WITH YOUR CONTACTS
HELP OTHERS STAY SAFE ONLINE

 

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

The Latest SCARS|RSN Posts