The Real Lives of Online Romance Scammers

By the time Chibuike was 24 years old, he had been kicked out of his family home multiple times, developed a drug addiction, attempted suicide, and scammed tens of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting victims overseas. For most of his career as a cybercriminal, Chibuike lived in one hotel after another in his native Ikotun—a bustling, impoverished neighborhood in Lagos, Nigeria. He spent lavishly on nights out, knockoff designer wares, and an ever-expanding circle of friends. At night, buoyed by meth and crack, he logged hours on his phone, talking to women who thought they were talking to the American wrestler Cody Rhodes.