I am a Nigerian, and I am an studying to take up a career in tech (focusing on software engineering, but I have interests in data science, and education). I see these stories of Nigerian scam artists presented in a stereotypical way that tends to casts a whole nation in that image, and it saddens me.
In 2016, and through the first quarter of 2017, at the peak of the ponzi schemes frenzy that caught Nigeria (did you hear of MMM and the likes?), some friends asked me to create a similar platform for peer-to-peer donations for them. They wanted a matrix scheme with themselves at the top; they'd later take the site down suddenly after making much money; whoever came in last or invested much would be wrecked.
I refused taking the job, and some other developer friends declined similar requests. I know some that took such jobs. So there are the dishonest ones, and there are the genuine ones.
While there are scammers raising the country's flag everywhere, I am certain many are not Nigerians.
As Chimamanda Adichie said, the problem with stereotypes is not that they are false, but that they are only half the truth.
When I was a college student in the US, a classmate of mine wanted my help automating an online poker site. Slightly more "victimless," but not necessarily any more ethical.
On flip side programmers hired from Nigeria via upwork are pretty damn good once committed, excellent grasp of English and timezone compatible with UK. I say committed because despite initial warm reception on next job they dropped off face of earth with no further communication.
Interestingly, the stereotype, has caused a large dent in the country's reputation (Paypal won't allow Nigerians to recieve funds) and there's a percievable reduction in the number of scammers from Nigeria. I believe many scams that claim to be Nigerian now are only taking advantage of the stereotype.
This stereotype has also made getting jobs considerably harder for sincere freelancers like me. And if I happen to find a client, I treat them like gold; I always work beyond expectation in an attempt to prove I'm not a stereotype.
It's frustrating though.
I have had a few customers from Nigeria and I also worked for 6 years with a Nigerian programmer, who was my sub-contractor on dozens of usually smaller projects. It all worked out perfectly fine. Nobody ever complained. It was great business. Not everybody in Nigeria is into these scamzillas. ;-)
In 2016, and through the first quarter of 2017, at the peak of the ponzi schemes frenzy that caught Nigeria (did you hear of MMM and the likes?), some friends asked me to create a similar platform for peer-to-peer donations for them. They wanted a matrix scheme with themselves at the top; they'd later take the site down suddenly after making much money; whoever came in last or invested much would be wrecked. I refused taking the job, and some other developer friends declined similar requests. I know some that took such jobs. So there are the dishonest ones, and there are the genuine ones.
While there are scammers raising the country's flag everywhere, I am certain many are not Nigerians. As Chimamanda Adichie said, the problem with stereotypes is not that they are false, but that they are only half the truth.