The Cost of Shortcuts: Why Scamming Is a Terrible Long-Term Strategy

In the age of AI, global opportunities and digital entrepreneurship, why waste your productive years scamming people when you could be building something sustainable?

I recently came across a video showing FBI raids on suspected scam centres, and honestly, it was quite appalling.

It got me thinking about the opportunities available to young people today and how some choose to spend their productive years.

We live in a time when artificial intelligence, AI agents, digital businesses, remote employment and global investment opportunities are creating new possibilities for people across different countries.

Yet, some young people wake up every day with the sole intention of chatting with unsuspecting people, manipulating them and stealing their money.

To me, this is short-sighted.

Fraud and scamming people are never sustainable ways to build wealth. You might get away with it today, tomorrow or even for several years, but there is always the risk of losing everything you have built, including your freedom.

There is an old saying:

“You can fool some people all of the time, and all people some of the time, but you cannot fool all people all the time.”

Instead of spending your productive years looking for people to deceive, why not spend that time developing skills, building businesses and creating something that can generate legitimate income for years?

Let’s look at some practical alternatives.

1. Start Somewhere, Even If the Job Is Menial

I understand that things can be difficult for young people, particularly in countries where unemployment is high, salaries are poor and economic opportunities are limited.

However, difficult circumstances should not make fraud the only option.

If you cannot immediately secure a high-paying job, consider taking a menial job, learning a trade or offering services that people are willing to pay for.

You could work as an apprentice, learn electrical installation, plumbing, welding, carpentry, fashion design or other practical skills.

You may not earn much initially, but you are building something important: experience, competence and the ability to provide value.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with starting small.

A legitimate income of ₦50,000 is better than building a lifestyle around money that could eventually cost you your freedom.

Don’t be too proud to start somewhere.

2. Learn AI, Technology and Other High-Income Skills

One of the biggest opportunities of our generation is the advancement of technology.

Artificial intelligence is changing how people work, how businesses operate and how products and services are delivered.

You don’t necessarily need to be a software engineer to benefit from this transformation.

There are opportunities in:

• AI automation and agent development.
• Software development.
• Data analysis.
• Digital marketing.
• Content creation.
• Graphic design and video editing.
• Cybersecurity.
• Cloud computing.
• Sales and business development.
• Digital entrepreneurship.

You can learn many of these skills online, practise with available tools and gradually build a portfolio of work.

You can also use these skills to serve businesses and clients outside your country.

Think about it: someone sitting in Ibadan, Lagos, Accra or Nairobi can develop a digital skill, find a client in another country and earn money from providing a legitimate service.

The opportunities are increasingly global.

However, don’t mistake watching tutorials for acquiring skills.

You must practise, build projects, solve problems and learn how to deliver results that people are willing to pay for.

3. Understand That Mastery Takes Time

This is where many people get it wrong.

They see someone making millions from software development, trading, digital marketing or an online business and assume they can achieve the same results within a few weeks.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way.

Developing a valuable skill takes time.

In my opinion, you should be prepared for about 8–10 years of learning, making mistakes, gaining experience and consistently improving if you want to become highly successful at a craft.

Some people will achieve remarkable results much faster, while others will need more time.

The point is not that everyone must spend exactly ten years learning a skill.

The point is that you must be willing to think long-term.

You will encounter challenges.

You will make mistakes.

You will sometimes feel like giving up.

You may even discover that some of the things you spent months learning are no longer relevant.

That is part of the process.

Keep learning, adapting and improving. Don’t abandon a valuable craft simply because you haven’t started making significant money from it.

Don’t confuse the time required to build a skill with the time required to make your first money from it.

You can start earning while you’re still learning.

4. Don’t Learn Only Digital Skills. Learn Practical Skills Too.

While AI and technology offer tremendous opportunities, I also believe young people should develop practical skills that complement technological advancement.

Some activities will remain essential regardless of how advanced AI becomes.

Think about:

• Agriculture and food production.
• Manufacturing.
• Construction.
• Electrical installation.
• Plumbing.
• Mechanical repairs.
• Sales and distribution.
• Logistics and transportation.
• Healthcare and caregiving.

People will continue to eat, build houses, move goods, repair equipment and require physical services.

AI may change how these industries operate, but it doesn’t automatically eliminate the need for people who can deliver real-world solutions.

In fact, combining technology with practical skills can create significant opportunities.

Imagine someone who understands agriculture and also knows how to use AI, automation and data to improve farm operations.

Or someone who understands construction and uses digital tools to manage projects, estimate costs and improve productivity.

That combination can be very valuable.

Don’t limit yourself to what is trending on social media.

Learn skills that solve real problems.

5. Learn Sales, Communication and Business

There is another important skill I would encourage everyone to develop: sales.

You can have an excellent product, a valuable skill or a brilliant business idea, but if you cannot communicate its value and convince people to pay for it, you may struggle to make money.

Sales is not simply about convincing people to buy things they don’t need.

It is about understanding people’s problems, presenting useful solutions and building relationships that lead to transactions.

Learn how to:

• Communicate effectively.
• Negotiate.
• Understand customer needs.
• Market products and services.
• Build relationships.
• Manage customers.
• Close legitimate business deals.

These skills are useful whether you work for someone, run a business, trade, invest or build a technology company.

Technology can help you automate many processes, but understanding people and creating trust remain important.

6. Build Something That Can Last

One thing I want young people to understand is the difference between making quick money and building lasting wealth.

Quick money can disappear as quickly as it comes.

But when you develop valuable skills, build a legitimate business, establish a good reputation and consistently provide value, you create opportunities that can compound over time.

You can start as an apprentice and eventually become a business owner.

You can start as a freelancer and build an agency.

You can start by creating content and eventually build a media company.

You can start with a small farm and gradually expand into food processing, distribution and manufacturing.

You can start with a valuable technical skill and eventually build a technology company.

The possibilities are enormous.

But you must be willing to put in the work.

Don’t spend your twenties and thirties looking for people to deceive when you could be using those years to develop yourself and build something meaningful.

Final Thoughts: Your Future Is Worth More Than a Shortcut

I understand that the economic realities in many African countries can be frustrating.

Unemployment, inflation, poor infrastructure and limited opportunities are genuine challenges.

However, these challenges do not make fraud a sustainable solution.

There are legitimate opportunities in technology, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, sales, digital entrepreneurship and many other industries.

You don’t have to become successful overnight.

Start somewhere. Get a job if you can. Learn a trade. Develop a high-income skill. Use AI as a productivity tool. Build relationships. Start a business when you are ready.

Most importantly, be patient with yourself.

You may not become successful in one year, two years or even five years. But every year should count towards making you more knowledgeable, skilled and valuable.

Don’t just look for money. Develop the ability to create value and earn money repeatedly.

Your skills, reputation, experience and integrity are assets that can serve you for decades.

Build something legitimate. Build something sustainable. Build something you can be proud of.

The world is changing, and the opportunities are out there.

Don’t waste your productive years chasing shortcuts.

Learn more. Earn more. Grow independently.

Salam.

Reference: This article was inspired by a video showing FBI raids on suspected scam centres and the broader discussion around fraud, technology and legitimate economic opportunities.

Video: https://youtu.be/68dsUQcceHM?si=kAcx\_DNvzWfBNkIf

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