Dear GhanaWeb: I scammed my parents, and I got scammed too

Dear GhanaWeb,

It was almost my final day at university, and I desperately wanted to get myself a new phone. The one my parents had bought for me a year ago had fallen and cracked. Instead of simply asking for their help, I decided to lie.

I called my mum and told her that I needed money to pay some mandatory fees for students who were graduating. I also added that I owed the school some money. Initially, my dad didn’t believe me, but as a mummy’s girl, I knew my mum could convince him—and she did. I told them I needed GH¢2,000, intending to use it to buy an iPhone XR.

Once the money was sent, I told my parents not to come and pick me up because I was now an adult and could find my way home. With the money in hand, I took a troski from school to Circle in Accra because a friend had told me I could get a cheaper phone there.

The moment I alighted, a man approached me. He wasn’t well-dressed, but he was holding the exact phone I wanted. It was my first time at Circle, so I was naturally cautious. But the man kept insisting that he was genuine and not out to defraud me. After about 10 minutes of him trying to convince me, I decided to inspect the phone.

The phone looked brand new and worked perfectly. I even took pictures and videos of myself on it. He initially quoted GH¢2,500, which was more than I had. After bargaining, he finally agreed to my GH¢2,000.

The man then said there were many thieves around and suggested we walk to where I’d pick my car so I could hand him the money safely. I agreed. When we got there, I counted the money and gave it to him. As I was about to leave, he offered me a phone case for free.

Even though the case wasn’t particularly attractive, I took it—who doesn’t like free things? He asked for the phone to put it in the case for me. After handing it back, he advised me to keep it in my pocket to avoid attracting thieves. Out of fear, I complied and started walking towards my car.

A few steps away, I heard people shouting that I had been scammed. At first, I ignored them, but something told me to check the phone. When I pulled it out, my heart sank. Inside the phone case was a perfectly shaped tile, not a phone.

Panic set in, and I turned around to look for the man, but he was nowhere to be found. Soon, people gathered around me, confirming that I’d been scammed. Some claimed they had seen the man and knew where he went. They asked for the phone case with the tile, saying they would retrieve my money for me. In my desperation, I handed it to them and waited.

I stood there for three hours, but no one returned. Feeling utterly defeated, I took a car home.

When I arrived, my mum noticed my mood and kept asking what was wrong. Now, I don’t know what to do. Should I report the incident to the police? Or should I confess everything to my mum and free myself from this guilt?

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