You might think online scams are obvious, but sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. Farooq Kperogi recently reported a story about a person who tricked several well-meaning individuals into giving money under false pretenses.
The scammer, known online as “Halima Tahir”, claimed to be a 300-level microbiology student at Bayero University, Kano. They approached people asking for tuition, medical bills, and even business support.
Investigations revealed the truth: “Halima Tahir” was actually Ismail Saleh Sani, a veterinary medicine student at Bayero University, who had scammed multiple people, including Kperogi himself.
In September 2024, Ismail approached Kperogi, claiming to be a student in human anatomy at the Federal University in Dutse. Later, he said he was admitted to Bayero University to study veterinary medicine and asked for help paying tuition.
Kperogi provided financial help multiple times, even for other causes like assisting an elderly woman. Eventually, Ismail started using the name “Halima Tahir” to continue scamming people.
The Evidence
Receipts given by “Halima Tahir” matched Ismail’s real email address. The same details appeared on his 2023 JAMB registration slip. When confronted, Ismail denied any wrongdoing, even after the evidence was provided.
Kperogi also discovered that friends and acquaintances had been targeted. People were scammed both under Ismail’s real name and the fake identity of “Halima Tahir.”
Online requests for money from strangers should always be verified. This case highlights how easily scammers can exploit trust, even across multiple victims. Bayero University and other authorities are being urged to investigate and take action.
The “Halima Tahir” scam shows that not all online identities are what they seem. If someone asks for money under suspicious circumstances, always check the facts before sending help.
