After I unsuccessfully sent an email to the police headquarters in Abuja / Nigeria with a request to release a contact for a complaint of Internet fraud, yesterday I decided to call the Nigerian Embassy in Berlin. Phone number is +49 030 212300. They need a lot of patience, it takes forever until the line is free.
First, I ended up in the wrong department, I think "general relationship", dial 7, this man as well as another spoke no German, badly understand English. I explained my concerns succinctly, he was astonished: "What do you want? Internet fraud? What is it?" Finally he realized: "Love scam? Ahhh, they`re wrong here choose 030 212 300!" He might have connect me, but no!
So back in the queue, finally: Again I explained my concern clearly. The answer of this gentleman: "Internet love scam? No, they are wrong here, they go to the German police!" I asked him: "So they do not know these scams of their compatriots? Funny!" He hang up the handset very quickly. I felt, it was an unpleasant situtation for him, not for me. I had the impression he did not want to begin the relatively short conversation. He applied like an eel.
Meanwhile, I have the impression on the part of the Nigerian authorities is no interest to fight this fraud really.
I would not be me, now I have a really interesting challenge. To be continued in the near future here.
I thought this might help a bit telling people what could be expected from "official channels", who on the one hand are of course not law enforcement, but on the other hand, just to see how some officials react.