What Happens When You Hire a Nigerian Scammer as a Photographer and a Videographer

We've never been fortunate to fund our expensive gear with money from a generous Nigerian prince. When filmmaker Adam Grumbo met such a scammer online he decided to pay and hire him as a photographer and a videographer, and the results are quite interesting.

It's a real story. Adam Grumbo exposed a Nigerian young man named Tobi, who approached him pretending to be a hot girl from Denver. Instead of closing the browser, the filmmaker decided to hire him as a documentary photographer and videographer. Grumbo made the risk to make a wire transfer of $100 as a reward for documenting the local environment in the small town where Tobi lived. The young Nigerian did a short vlog, accompanied by pictures and video of his house interior and exterior, as well as the local market. As with every film, story is king. Regardless of the quality of the pictures and video, the visuals showing that part of the world speak way more beyond the technical execution.

Grumbo showed a great example of how he helped this young man by making him do something of a real value. What would you do next time when a Nigerian prince approaches you with a multi-zeroes amount of money?

Tihomir Lazarov's picture

Tihomir Lazarov is a commercial portrait photographer and filmmaker based in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is the best photographer and filmmaker in his house, and thinks the best tool of a visual artist is not in their gear bag but between their ears.

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20 Comments

Inspiring Adam!!!!

Really great post !!

Yeah, very interesting.

As a Nigerian myself, I find it funny how one moment he's trying to scam him, the next he's talking about his belief in God. God and Satan get blamed for everything here. The dish he prepares in the video is called "Fish Stew" not Pepper soup, and its usually served as a topping for Rice, Pasta and various local dishes here. All in all inspiring stuff, the world would be a better place with more people like you Adam.

That's true about the religious aspect of the story.

It is also true that there are many local Nigerian professionals in photography. You seem to be one of them.

Yes I'm one of them. Photography is really popular right now (Thanks to Instagram majorly) and there's a growing community of photographers across the country.

I'm glad to hear that, because this will do good for the reputation of the country and its people.

Indeed, I hope it does. From what I understand, we have a reputation as a dishonest, fraudster-filled nation to the western world.

It's like that with everything that gets more publicity. If your people get more publicity with other things, the public opinion will change quite quickly. Unfortunately and fortunately that's how media works.

Well said man.

And if anyone ever needs quality footage and pictures about Life on this side of the world. Contact me.
#Shamelessadvertising

As a Nigerian, its amazing that what we see everyday is appreciated by people in other continents. Thanks for this man.

PS: There are far more hardworking creative Nigerians than there are scammers. Its sad because the scammers and their acts give the nation bad press. Meanwhile hardworking Nigerians suffer for it.
If many like Adam Grumbo built bridges like these, it would be nice for people like us. Once again, Thank you.

Yes, it's all about the publicity. Whatever publicity the country or the people get, that's the way others judge them.

Tobi has an iPhone, he's alright

As a Nigerian myself, i must say that poverty is never a good enough reason to scam other people. The amount of time, resources and energy expended in trying to scam other people if properly invested in legitimate pursuits, it will yield fruits.
Tobi is not the poorest crop of people in Nigeria, atleast he has a house and goes to school (if he is being honest)- i think he just wants a quick means to be rich (the reality of many nigerians).
Not all Nigerians are fraudsters or liars but it is sad that people like Tobi keep promoting this narrative that is working against hard working Nigerians.
I’m sorry i don’t pity tobi.
Thank you Adam for helping transform Tobi’s life (that is if he has truly changed).

Just like every other people in the world we have good n bad people. Its quite unfortunate you fell into the wrong hands. Nigerians are mostly good people.
Please make an indept research next time, before using anybodies services. I do sympatise with you.
Proudly Nigerian.

Tobi earned his $100.00 , it would have been nice if you actually looked up real shooters and videographers that could have done a better job ,Keep encouraging him , you might have saved him from a life of crime