Interview 1
Don Bee (pseudonymize) is 26 years old and has been in the scamming industry for 6 years. Don Bee has 4 scammers who are under his training and 2 people who calls his bosses. Bon bee is married with two kids and lives in his own house. Interview was conducted in Don Bee’s house on two occasions.
Don Bee opinion on illegality and immorality
Don Bee connected Illegality to the country’s constitution or the laws and immorality to Islamic values. “Don Bee’ believe that religion is very important for people’s social lives and its very different from the legal codes in the constitution. According to Don Bee, the things that law forbids are not important as compare to what is immoral or moral in Islam. Extract example
“Chairman, you know this thing self but you’re still asking me… you yourself know that illegal and immoral are not the same… because when we say something is illegal, it’s like the law of the country say it’s illegal.. you know, when the law say something is illegal, it don’t mean that is immoral…. I say that because when something is immoral it means that God says we shouldn’t do that thing.. for instance, God can say that we should pray five times and you don’t pray, it means you are doing immoral thing…yes, the police cannot come and catch you because you didn’t pray so that means that if you don’t pray is not illegal…”
However, he also believe that some aspect of the legal codes have religious significant. He mentioned the likeness of killing, arm robbery, and rape as the link between moral and legal code. However, he general believes that the legal codes in the country are not important and breaking them has no consequence. For example:
“Somethings can be illegal and can be immoral at the same time…. If that happened it don’t mean that illegal and immoral is the same..Example, when you kill somebody, or maybe let’s say you rape somebody the police will catch you because is illegal… meanwhile, in the Qur’an is it also mention that somebody should kill another person, or rape another person…so if you do those things the police will punish you and when you die God will also punish you for doing that things..”
He stressed that those who define what is legal and illegal are themselves doing the illegal things. Example, Don Bee mentioned that Politicians are those who make the laws but they are the same people who break the laws. He gave the example of corruption (stealing state funds), voting frauds, using and selling illegal drugs as some of the illegal practices of law makers. Comparatively, Don Bee suggested that, whereas what is considered illegal is only important if the same thing is considered immoral in the face of religion. However, he sees what is considered immoral very important and that people should try hard to always follow the teachings of Islam because he beliefs the moral codes of Islam are universal ethics and breaking them is punishable in this world and hereafter (punishment in hell fire). For instance;
“Charlie, look, we all know it… the law or illegal things is not important at all… take for example, are they not this  politician guys, Nana, John Mahama and all of them, are they not this people who make the laws?... that is right, but they are also going against the same laws that they make, for example, when is election time and we are voting, politicians are stealing votes. They also steal the country money and buying many many things for themselves. Charlie, just think about it,… if the law was important, those who make it will follow it.. For the immoral my brother, its more than important haha. The whole world know that is important than human life self… God create the world and He make the knows that whatever we do and  is bad…it is not bad for Him, it is bad for us that is why He said we shouldn’t do immoral things….if you refuse to obey God command, when you die, my brother, nobody can save you from fire. God forgive us my brother.. this life no fair”..
Don Bee believe about obeying the law and sense of morality
Don Bee believe that human beings are not perfect and therefore will always be immoral in some ways. Central to his argument, he mentioned that God is aware that human beings will do immoral things because HE created us with imperfection.  He mentioned that people do illegal and immoral things everyday and that immorality and illegalities are part of human life; however, he believe that people can only try not to commit the big illegal acts or immoral acts. To elucidate this, Don Bee gave the example of murder, raping, skipping prayers, fornication (he believes its inescapable act). He also believes that some social conditions force people to do the wrong things in life. He gave an example of his neighbor who had to steal a goat to get money for this mother’s hospital bills and unfortunately was caught, beaten, and injured severely. He expressed empathy for this person and believe that such a person shouldn’t be punished.  For example;
“Charlie, God know us better than we know ourselves.. I know you know this too... Do you know why God is call God? Theirs is reason for that.. Ask me and I will tell you hahaa…. He is call God because he is Perfect… yes Perfect, I swear.. Human beings are not perfect and God know it because He created us and He knows everything about it. Because He created us imperfect, nobody can live without committing sin or doing those illegal things. Charlie, something man has to struggle to get money to survive and in the process, we commit sin and its normal… That just shows that we are not like God bro”…
In general what will you say about yourself? Do you consider yourself moral and legal person?
Don Bee thinks that no human being can ever be fully moral or legal. He believes that everyone is one way or the other is immoral or illegal, but he thinks that some illegal and immoral things are not severe. Based on this, he argued that he is not immoral or illegal person but he is not also perfect. He mentioned that sometimes he does wrongs things which are not accepted in Islam and in the face of the law. He gave an example of sex before marriage, lying, voting more than one during elections, bribing to get things done fast, and being stubborn. He said he tries to do moral things more than immoral things, believing that God will forgive him for his immoral behavior. For instance;
“As for this question Charlie, I cannot say I am a moral or immoral person. I cannot also say whether I am legal or illegal person.. I am saying this because sometimes I do things that are accepted in Islam or it is not allow in this country… But I try not to do more good things than bad things. Charlie like I said, if not God and His angels, nobody is complete moral… Some people even say that if angels was living like human beings they will also commit sins like us..So that is bro..”
He also mentioned that some have a lot of challenges and problems that is why illegal and immoral acts will always be in the society. He mentioned that some people commit illegal and immoral acts in order to feed themselves and their families, to revenge those who offend them, for pleasure. He mentioned that people intentionally fornicate, not because they want to disrespect God but because of the pleasure they drive from fornication. He gave an example of getting the opportunity to have sex with a girl that a guy admires so much. According to him, a guy will definitely have sex with a girl that he admires, whether in marriage or not marriage. He also explained that poverty, family pressure can make people to steal or do bad things to get money. He believes that doing something illegal or immoral to feed one’s family shouldn’t been considered illegal or immoral. According to him, feeding and protecting human life is better than allowing a person die or starve because of morality and law. 
Do you think the scamming business is immoral or illegal?
Whereas Don Bee completely disagree that scamming is illegal, he believes that only lies make scamming business immoral. According him the internet is a free platform that people can use it the way they want. He mentioned that some people use the computer for games, others for watching football, soccer bet, watching porn, entertainment, sending and receiving emails, and they (scammers) chose to use it to chat and make money. According to him, lying is also central to everyone’s live, stressing that even the religious leaders also lie. He said that, when lies is taking out of the scamming business, there’s nothing wrong. He believed that scamming entails a lot of effort before one can get money from it. For instance:
“My brother, this scamming thing, if you ask me whether is immoral or not, I can answer but if you ask me whether is illegal, than you are just joking haha.. I am said because this scamming is not illegal, the police are just pretending and saying that it’s illegal, we hustle for the money my brother.. let me tell you something, we work with police, they take their share and we have our money… but if you say immoral, I will agree. I am saying this because we lie too much in the scam. And you know that lying is immoral.. for me, the lying is the only wrong thing about this business..Even this lie I am talking about, everyone lie in their business…teachers lie to students, politicians lie to voters, lawyers lie to the court, even you, are you lying as a student.. no vex bro ahaha.. yes, I am saying the truth. 
According to him, they sacrifice every night to talk to clients in other to succeed. Be mentioned that sometimes they spend up to four months chatting with a client to build trust but the client might not send them any money. According to him, those times spend on that client is wasted because they (scammers) couldn’t get money from that chat. He also mentioned that, just like politicians will come and lie to electorates for their votes, it’s the same way they (sacmmers) lie to their clients online to take money from them. He mentioned that lies is part of every business, arguing further that even teachers, bankers, musicians, pastors, and malams all lie to get money. In view of this, Don Bee sees scamming as any other form of business and economic strategy. Don Bee gave an example of a USA female client he dealt with in the past. According to him, he was chatting with the client with his real identity but the only lie he told the client was his marriage status. He mentioned that lying about his marriage status was very important because the client will not agree to be in relationship with him if he’s already married. He said that, he told the client that he was divorced and was living with his children and the client was sending him 200 dollars every week to take care of the children. He mentioned that, what made the client to stop talking to him was because of the amount of money he kept asking from the client. At the end of the story, he mentioned that, the money the client was sending him was legitimate because he was in relationship with her and they were supporting each other and that the only wrong thing about it was the lie, which he believe is normal for everyone to lie. 
Apart from the lies, do you think that you or others do other things that are immoral during the scamming process?
Apart from the lies Don Bee mentioned that other immoral things are about how the scammer uses his money. For Don Bee he thinks he doesn’t do anything that is wrong apart from the lies. However, Don Bee mentioned that some scammers do other immoral things he feels it’s not right. Don Bee talked about how some scammers used their money to have sex with several girls and doing drugs. He also mentioned that some scammers even buy guns and involving in other crimes like robbery. According to Don Bee, he uses his money to support his, children education, his wife’s business, his mother, his siblings, and his boutique, and supermarket business. Don Bee mention that, his goal is to make his family comfortable and not to cause them troubles.
“For me I will say, the only thing bad about his business is the lie…but some people also use the money wrong.. you know this boys, some of them will receive the money and start using it to fuck different girls, drinking tramol, and even some of this boy buy guns… you know now haaha, they buy it in case they don’t get money from clients again, they will go to the street at night, threaten or even kill people and take their people. My brother it is not easily..For me, this business, the lie is the only thing.. it helps me and my family”..
Where do you clients usually come from? Can someone you know in-person or in Ghana or your community be your client?
Don Bee answer to this question suggest that everyone can be a client as longs us you fall into their trap. However, he mentioned that most of his client are from USA, UK, Australia, Europe, and Sometimes Asia. He also made a distinction between local level scam and international scam. According to him, most of the techniques that they use for the international scam is adopted by the local scammers. According him, local scammers find Ghanaians on Facebook, check their profile to see whether they’re single, and examine whether the person can be a client. He mentioned that in the local scam narrative, they search for rich women and men on Facebook, send them friendship request, and establish romantic relationship with them, and thereafter, ask them to send them money. He mentioned the only way the local scam is different from the international one is that, they only request small money from local victims partly because local victims don’t send big money to girls or boys they meet online. He mentioned that with local scam, victims will only send you small money if victims know you are in the same country and they hope to see you soon. He added that when local victims know that the person they chat with is not in Ghana, they will stop chatting But with the international scam, when victims wants to  meet in-person, you can give them many excuses without losing trust.  Also about the local scam, he mentioned that they also use gender-swapping format (where a male scammer pretend to be a girl or a woman pretending to be a man) to defraud local victims too. According Don Bee, he uses impersonated beautiful black girls’ pictures to create Facebook profiles but makes his girlfriend to talk to local clients on phone. However, he mentioned that the local one is not lucrative because local client don’t want to give a lot of money to people they don’t never meet in-person.  
Tell me about your last or current client. Example, where she is from, how much you got from him or her and anything interesting
Don Bee talked about a 72 years old Woman called Selma from Denmark as her last client. He described the woman as a divorcee who lives alone in her own house; however, she has two married daughters. According to Don Bee, he found her on Facebook and sent her a message with his military profile account. Likely, Don Bee was able to start conversation with Selma and was enable to lure her into romantic relationship. Don Bee was always telling her about his love for her and how he wants them to get marriage after he comes back from his peace mission. He told Selma about his fake adopted son in Ghana and how he wants Selma to see his adopted son as her son too. Don Bee sends gifts to Selma from Ghana, pretending to be the adopted son. Selma begun to love Don Bee and his adopted son and was willing to support the relationship and the family they – Don Bee, Selma, and adopted son were building. Don Bee told Selma to help him to be paying their adopted son’s school fees and giving him (adopted son) money for his living, promising Selma that he will pay her when he comes home. Selma kept sending money to the adopted son in Ghana until Don Bee told Selma he was about to come home and he will go to Ghana to pick their adopted son. While Don Bee was known to be in Ghana, Don Bee asked Selma for 50,000 dollars to buy some items in Ghana and bring them to USA. Before this, Don Bee told Selma about a house he bought in USA for them. However, Selma could not send Don Bee the whole amount, instead she sent 28,000 dollars, expecting to meet her new husband. Don Bee told Selma about the items he bought and was going to send it to USA and visit some touristic places with their adopted son before coming. Don Bee, asked Selma to send 2000 dollars to custom officers who demanded to received that 2000 before they send those items to the USA. However, Selma only manage to rise 800 dollars. Don Bee asked her to send the 800 and he will find another way to complete the money for the custom officers. According to Don Bee, He left Selma after the 800 dollars. However, Don Bee estimated taking up to 80,000 from Selma. 
Has your mind ever change about your client. Like, have you ever considered not taking money from your client for any reason?
Don Bee started this with his first client though whom he built his house. According to him, his first client was a man in USA whom he was scamming using a white woman’s picture. According he was scamming this man until he suspected that it was a scam. So, the client insisted that he (scammer) says the truth about his identify or else he wasn’t ready to send any money again. According to him, he decided to admit that it was a scam and he apologized to the white man. According to him, the client demanded his real identify but he decided to send his girlfriend’s (now his wife) picture to the white man. According to him, the white man liked the picture and was ready to be in relationship with him (his girlfriend for real). According to him, he started chatting with the whiteman as his girlfriend but sometimes will make his girlfriend to talk to the whit man on video calls. According to him, the white man was madly in love with his girlfriend and was consistently sending money to them. According to him, he built his house from the money that the white man send to his girlfriend. He decided to stop scamming the white man when the white man put pressure on them (scammer and his girlfriend) to get married and wanted to come to Ghana. According to him, he stopped because he loved his girlfriend and wanted to marry her.
Don Bee also gave example of a USA client that he felt sympathy for after taking money from that woman. He added that his sympathy paid more afterwards. Don Bee meet a USA retired nurse whom he established a romantic relationship with. Don Bee mentioned“I could feel her kindness, innocence, and ready to do good, not just for me but for all people”. This woman, Sandra send a lot of money to Don Bee to the point she didn’t have money to pay her rent and the house owner wanted to send her away. As a reverse kindness, Don Bee decided to send her money through another client. According to Don Bee, Sandra told him that she was very sad because she can’t pay her house rent which was due soon. To help Sandra, Don Bee asked another client in UK to send money to Sandra. Sandra was very happy that Don Bee helped her to pay her rent and that strengthen Sandra’s love for Don Bee. Afterward, Don Bee decided not to take money from Sandra again but tries to make other clients to send money to Sandra. Though the amount Sandra sent to Don Bee was very much more than the amount she received from Don Bee.  
Don Bee Feeling guilt and dealing with guilt
Don Bee mentioned that the only time he feels guilty is when his clients is in bad condition. According to him, he felt guilty when he scammed Sandra to the point that she shouldn’t pay her house rent. According to him, the only way he could deal with that feeling was to make sure that he helped Sandra to pay her rent. According to him, sometimes he feels regret and guilty when he scams a person and finally realized that that person has cancer or some illness. According to him, dealing with the guilt is difficult but he sometimes tries to forget the feeling and move on. According to him, concentrating on the feeling can interrupts the scamming process and he doesn’t want to stop. Example,
“My brother is not easy sometimes to deal with the feeling.. you just have to keep going and try not to think about it too much. Especially when you are lying to somebody who is genuine, and kind.. Charlie, inside you the feeling is bad but we have keep going because our life and our family depend on us.. I’m telling you my brother.. God will understand.. because we can allow our family to be hungry.. don’t you know hunger can kill?...is better to do this business and pray so that God will forgive my brother..God no go shame us hahah”