
SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years

What exactly is the Nigerian dream?
In order to combat an enemy, you must first understand them. Not just as inanimate objects, but as human beings capable of inflicting such pain on others.
In no way are we condoning what scammers do. In fact, there is little difference between a romance scam and an act of violence. However, we do try to understand why they think they can engage in such psychological violence, but also seem to care nothing about their victims.
Make no mistake, there is a war going one between Africa and the rest of the World!
Here is an article that appeared in a Nigerian publication that explains much of it from the Nigerian perspective.
The Nigerian dream is a reflection of societies where justice does not prevail and where corruption is not only tolerated but glorified in many cases.
A lot of people believe that the Nigerian dream is to travel and settle abroad. While we have witnessed a steady and mass movement of people from here to overseas since the 80s, this isn’t the Nigerian dream.
Yes, many Nigerian youths dream of getting away from here and settling in greener pastures abroad. This, however, isn’t a dream. We cannot ignore the reality that many Nigerians find themselves abroad- doing menial jobs and living from paycheck to paycheck.
Not every Nigerian who travels abroad to settle is guaranteed a life of comfort and stability. Many learn quickly that life on the other side is not a bed of roses that Hollywood sold to them. There are plenty of Nigerians who want to come back home but they can’t because they are ashamed that they will be coming back with nothing.
This is not the Nigerian dream because many are living in nightmares abroad. So, what is the Nigerian dream? It is simple. The dream is to make it by any means necessary.
Think about it for a second. Life in Nigeria is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” The life expectancy here is 53 years of age. 67% of Nigerians live below the poverty line. The constant supply of electricity is still a myth. Police brutality is high with operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad extorting, illegally detaining and assaulting Nigerian youths daily.
Inside this heap of harsh conditions called Naija lies the Nigerian dream, a perverted ambition.
The Nigerian dream is simply this ‘to succeed against all odds, by any means necessary’. And there are a lot of odds. Apart from the aforementioned ones, add a non-existent public health care system, poor level of education and unemployment. The odds are stacked against the Nigerian youth to make it in life.
Nigerians are tenacious, they will succeed despite the obstacles. With our backs against the wall, we have continuously found a way not only to survive but to thrive as well.
Let me break down the word ‘succeed’ in this context into street lingo, you are familiar with. Succeed here means ‘hammer’, or ‘blow’. When a Nigerian says ‘I wan blow’, that is just the Nigerian dream. When Olu Maintain sang ‘When I hammer, first thing na Hummer’ on ‘Yahooze’ that is just the Nigerian dream in play.
Our country people just don’t want to get by. They want to be successful, they want to have lots of money because tomorrow is not guaranteed. In a society where there aren’t strong safety nets (reliable pension scheme and good health care) people will enter the rat race. The aim will be able to make the most amount of money within the shortest possible time.
That is why as Nigerians we do not operate on a long-term level. Your landlord asks you for a year’s rent upfront despite knowing you get paid monthly. He wants the rent for a year because who knows, by tomorrow you could get fired with no notice or your company starts to owe you months of salary.
The American dream is to have a nice house with a picket fence, the identity of middle-class America. In Nigeria, the middle class is very thin, one wrong move you are in poverty land.
‘Any means necessary’ means we are willing to bend the rules (also break the rules) to be rich. The high level of corruption indicates how we are willing to break the rules to make it in life in a society that has lost its moral compass.
In a society where there is little or no justice and safety nets, citizens would do all within their means to have a decent life. And this is what is happening in Nigeria right now. From politicians to every day Nigerians, we are trying to grab as much cash within the smallest amount of time to ensure we have a fulfilling life.
This is why we have Internet fraudsters. The dream to ‘hammer’ and ‘blow’ is what fuels crime in this country. Young men are willing to do anything it takes to be rich in a society where the odds are stacked against them.
Perhaps we shouldn’t call it the Nigerian dream but rather the Nigerian Nightmare. If life is hellish here then surely then the dreams you have cannot be beautiful but rather a perversion of healthy ambition.
And this is why the Nigerian society is excessively materialistic. The drive to show you are better than your neighbour comes from the crabs in a barrel mentality. You want to flaunt because you want to announce that you have made it from the hellhole. You want to proudly proclaim that you did all that it took to be successful.
This is the Nigerian dream, the burning desire to be successful against all odds by any means necessary. Take a look around and you will see that most of the successful people believe in this dream.
From: http://www.pulse.ng/gist/pop-culture/what-exactly-is-the-nigerian-dream-id8535927.html
Isn’t it amazing how Africans complain about colonizers from over a hundred years ago, yet the reality is their crap countries are the product of their own making!
The sad truth is that in order to stop scamming, we will have to completely change their culture. How can we do that while the corruption rules these countries?
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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
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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
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
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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