This restaurant owner had a whole lot of fun with a Nigerian scammer who thought the restaurateur was about to send him a whole lot of money to keep his electricity turned on.
Restaurant owner scams a Nigerian Scammer
Raymond Edwin Macht is the owner of 2002 Restaurant and Catering. He serves American cuisine and dabbles in others as well. He even has Panamanian parties with frituras (including empanadas and patacones).
Raymond received a call he will never forget. It was the typical scam characterized as the Nigerian scam because much of them recently come out of Nigeria. He said it happened to him at least five times. Raymond said he was scared the very first time it occurred but just as he was about to make the transaction, he came to his senses. Practical reasoning overcame fear.
Once again a Nigerian scammer told him that a technician was on the way to cut off his electricity and he had to pay up in cash now. Raymond said he believes the scam could be out of Nigeria, South Africa, or some part of the Caribbean based on the accents and other clues he inferred.
Raymond was now ready to take the scammer for a ride. He called back the scammer after receiving the call to have some fun with him. All the while the scammer believed he had another gullible American guy on the hook. Raymond played the role of a rather confused person worried that his electricity was about to get cut off. He was ready to comply.
The scammer first asked for a checking account or a credit card. He did this to appear legitimate. He then came back and said because the technician was already on the way and since it takes 24 hours for the bank to confirm the check or credit card,– a lie — he had to pay in cash.
Raymond said he could pay in cash. The scammer gave Raymond the address of the store to purchase two cards that he would use to pay the bill. Raymond had no intentions of leaving his office, but he made the scammer believe he was at the store.
After a few back and forths on the phone, Raymond told the scammer he had the cards. The Nigerian scammer asked for the number. Raymond gave him the numbers. They were F-U-C-K-Y-O-U. The scammer soon realized he was scammed and hung up as Raymond scolded him.
Raymond’s handling of this scammer should provide some education to those that may someday get one of these calls. It could prevent one falling prey to these unscrupulous scammers.
I spoke to Raymond by phone this morning. Ironically he spent 2 years in Panama, where I was born and immersed himself in the culture. It turned out we attended the same High School as well. He visits the country every year and will be opening several restaurants down there. I let him know I will send all my relatives to support his restaurant as regular customers. It is a small world.
NOTE: This article was updated after receiving a phone call from Raymond to add his restaurant information.