A Nigerian man, identified as Ifeanyichukwu, has shared a deeply emotional account of how internet fraud, commonly associated with “Yahoo boys” shattered his family and led to the untimely death of his mother.
His heartbreaking story came in response to a controversial post on X (formerly Twitter), where a user attempted to trivialize the actions of online scammers. The original post read: “Yahoo boys have done absolutely nothing for the hate they receive… they just wan collect Sandra and John money use am buy oversized polo man.”
Angered by the post’s dismissive tone, Ifeanyichukwu detailed the tragic aftermath of internet fraud in his own family. According to him, his mother had just retired and was looking forward to enjoying the fruits of her labor when her entire retirement savings were wiped out by online scammers.
The emotional and psychological trauma from the incident was overwhelming. He revealed that shortly after the incident, his mother suffered a stroke. Though she initially survived, the long-term impact on her health proved too much. She later experienced multiple strokes, which ultimately led to her death.
“I lost my mother because of these criminals,” he wrote. “She was never the same again after being scammed of her retirement money. She suffered a stroke and went through repeated health crises before passing away.”
The family’s ordeal did not end there. In a separate incident earlier this year, Ifeanyichukwu revealed that his father fell victim to another act of financial fraud. In January, his father’s ATM card got stuck in a machine at a bank. While attempting to report the issue inside the banking hall, fraudsters swiftly retrieved the card and withdrew ₦1.4 million through a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal before any action could be taken.
“We were terrified,” he said. “It brought back memories of what happened to my mum. Thankfully, the money was eventually refunded to spare my dad the stress, but the fear and anxiety it caused us was intense.”
In his emotional post, Ifeanyichukwu did not mince words. He condemned the actions of internet fraudsters and those who attempt to justify or glamorize their crimes. He expressed his anger toward individuals who make light of the suffering these scammers cause, emphasizing that behind every fraudulent transaction, there are real lives and families enduring pain, loss, and trauma.
He also shared screenshots of the POS transactions to support his story, challenging anyone who might doubt the truth of his experience.
“I hope those defending Yahoo boys see what their so-called hustle does to innocent families,” he concluded. “You’re not just taking money, you’re taking lives, peace, and hope.”
His story has since sparked massive conversations online, with many expressing sympathy and calling for stricter penalties for cybercrime and better protection for vulnerable citizens, especially the elderly.
