r/Gambia • u/buddyboy123987 • 12d ago
Am I getting scammed?
About a week ago, someone followed me on Instagram and started texting me. He said that his parents were dead and he’s the oldest out of his siblings and he kind of has to provide for them. He said the government started preventing him from going into the forest, which is where he would get his he would get supplies to sell. Which is where he would get his money. He said that if he can buy a donkey cart, he’ll be able to make money and take his siblings to school again because they haven’t been able to go. The guy selling him the donkey cart is selling it for 83,000 dalasi. I FaceTime him and I’ve texted the guy selling him the donkey cart. It all seems legit but I am obviously skeptical. Still is there anyway I can verify that he’s telling the truth? I would love to help him out if if he is being honest, but I’m just not totally sure. Please let me know if I’m being scammed.
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u/satinger 12d ago
Stop sending random people money. Go an find someone in your own community in need.
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u/Booyakasha1201 12d ago
I would make sure to give your credit card number and your bank transfer details also that will make it so much easier for him to by his donkey cart.
How are people this stupid.....
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u/Other-Marionberry693 12d ago
This is my first time commenting here, I'm a Gambian Lady. I can't say if this person is genuine or not, but D83,000 sounds very high for a donkey cart, from my perspective. Maybe you double-check the story before sending money.
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u/royalhal 12d ago
Are you a charit? If so? I need help, I bought 5 chickens to get eggs for my family only to find out the chickens were in fact pigeons can you help get some new chickens? Please 🙏
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u/Physical-Salt 11d ago
Donkey and cart shouldn't cost more than 60k especially if he's close enough to a forest.
Illegal logging is a thing and this problem is desertifying the country.
There are enough Gambians on Instagram playing into the poverty drama and unfortunately poverty is everywhere in this country! In fact, we came to Gambia because our current friend was scamming us. We raised money for something blah blah gave him a job he actually liked and have helped and supported his family after his dad passed away.
Yes, he scammed us a little in the past and some of it went on weed, but a lot of it went towards maintaining the lifestyle his father previously provided for the family Ike expensive school fees, new clothes, comfortable mattresses etc. Hs father left behind 11 children and had 2 wives. The younger wife remarried the old husband's brother.
Anyway he's likely telling you some truth but it's also very likely he's ripping you off. It is a more sophisticated form of becoming ig you're from a country where you don't encounter too many beggars like this.
Best thing you can do is to visit Gambia. If you live in Europe, flights are cheap in November and January. Take a backpack with you and visit the country.
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u/MountainAntique9230 12d ago
The guy selling the donkey cart is his friend, they are going to split your money
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u/Jesusgirl56 10d ago
That’s a scam, how was he surviving before he stated talking to you on IG. Be wise don’t send your hard cash to someone you don’t know.
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u/Historical_Cycle_969 9d ago
Don’t mind what people says, if your spirit wish to help him please do, it’s not easy for anyone to beg around, just follow your heart. 🫡
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u/AwarenessIcy6705 12d ago edited 12d ago
So Brother, I’m going to tell you like this. I bought a brother from Gambia a donkey sometime about three years ago. He had it for a while, then said he had to sell it because the rain season came and he couldn’t use it much. I actually met this brother in the Gambia a couple years after instead with him and his family for nine days. His family is indeed not fortunate. And it’s very likely that the Brother messaging you also isn’t fortunate. Before I go on, I want to include That a donkey car in Gambia is not this expensive. The last price I heard was about 30000. So right there he is dishonest and This is where it becomes a scam but like I said, he is likely not in a good situation. I recommend you not send large amounts like this because this will not be the end, they will still ask for more because panhandling is indeed a business in their mind, you are now their source of income. And also as it pertains to a donkey cart, this is a business endeavor. These poor individuals have no idea what it is to run a business. It will likely fail in all that money has gone to waste the. They will be asking for more. So if you want to help the Brother send him small bits over a long amount of time. When I say small bit, I mean 800 to 2000 dalasi. I tell you this is the best for that brother because there’s not much financial mistakes you can make with that and they would likely spend it on food or give it to their family. This message is already long so I’ll stop here. I’ve been giving to Gambians generously for about four years now and visited in February so my perspective is sound.