The bible for scammers: Nigerian conman who fleeced fifty lonely women reveals his cruel tactics

Heartbreaker: Former scam artist ‘Christopher’ posed as an American army man

Rippling biceps, short, blond hair and a military uniform — this was the mask of choice for Christopher Maxwell.

During five years as a romance scammer, Christopher, now 24, posed as an American army man to prowl social media platforms and dating sites in search of his next victim, and successfully tricked up to 50 women into sending a total of $70,000 (£55,400). Speaking to Money Mail, the self-confessed reformed scammer owns up to the deceptive and cruel tricks he used to seduce women across the English-speaking world.

Christopher, who is using a pseudonym and now works as a consultant at fraud-busting group Social Catfish, started scamming in 2016 as a way of making easy money when he was in his second year of university in Nigeria.

‘I had no money and my family was broke, so I had to do something. I know people might not understand, but I’m a professional and it was my full-time job. I scammed every day of my life at the time.’

But did he feel guilty for tricking these women? ‘I did feel bad at the start, but at some point I stopped. I was making good money,’ he says. ‘I never felt for these people and didn’t let any emotion kick in.’

Christopher says he used social media platforms Facebook and Instagram to contact women, as well as dating websites. He primarily targeted women in their 50s and 60s who appeared to be recently divorced or widowed. 

‘I can take advantage of that. The dating apps make it easy because you can set your profile to a particular age group,’ he says.

His profile showed pictures of a man he had found online who was in the army, and he told women he was American and had been deployed to either Afghanistan, Israel or Korea.

The 24-year-old says he had a range of false excuses to ask for money, which included saying he needed money to take a flight and spend the rest of his life with the woman, or to replace his uniform.

‘I started with small amounts and always said I would pay everything back.’

His biggest windfall came from a 61-year-old American woman, who sent him a total $30,000 (£23,700) during their one-year relationship. 

However, she used Social Catfish, a company that verifies online identities using reverse image searches, and was able to track down Christopher. 

When he was confronted by the woman whose life he ruined, he says he felt terrible and is happy he no longer has to scam to make a living.

Christopher leaked a 40‑page bible for scammers in Nigeria entitled How To Make A White Woman Fall In Love With You From Online Chat.

Christopher leaked a 40‑page bible for scammers in Nigeria entitled How To Make A White Woman Fall In Love With You From Online Chat

The book, which has been shared with Money Mail by Social Catfish, offers a step-by-step guide, with scripts of romantic phrases, conversation starters and questions it promises will make women ‘fall head over heels in love with you’.

It says the types of ladies that are ‘easier to get’ and who will ‘fall in love with you ASAP without much stress’ are those over 40.

It says: ‘They are working hence they have the money you need. Also, being single at 40, they are eager for love.’

Once the target is identified, the playbook instructs scammers to do their research before chatting up their ‘client’. ‘You will want to find out everything you can before chatting [to] her as this will help later on. 

Check her [social media] bio for information. It can be her hobbies, pets, job, passion, if she has kids, where she lives, etc.’

It recommends complimenting women on their activities or what they enjoy and ask questions relating to it. It adds: ‘You want to go gentle and different. Do not send a “hi”. There are many people that have sent her “hi” before. 

You want to send something that will make her like you from the very first text. Something that will make her open your message and her heart for you.’

Once the conversation is flowing, the book says to ‘make it about her’. ‘Oyinbo women [a Nigerian term for Western women] like talking about themselves. They will think you care and will fall in love.’

Next, it instructs the criminals to compliment women using one of 60 suggested phrases, such as: ‘I can’t believe I found someone like you’ and ‘Your mind is just as sexy as your beauty.’

Women are more susceptible to messages at night, it claims. ‘Get to know her time zone and text her around 10pm. Night is when you can easily get her to fall for you.’

Scammers are told to take their time in asking for money to build trust first. It says: ‘Spend days talking about random things. It can be time-consuming, but it’s totally worth it.’

When it comes to asking for money, it instructs to ‘ask without looking like you are asking’. For example: ‘When she asks about your day, tell her it was bad, then tell her you are broke, you are behind [on] your mortgage.

‘By herself, she will offer to give you money. If you want a new phone tell her yours is bad and you won’t be able to chat any more.’

Christopher reveals that the biggest giveaway that you’re speaking to a scammer is if they won’t show their face via video call. ‘

Avoid anyone who says they cannot meet because they are in the military or live overseas,’ he says. If they confess love too quickly and demand the same in return, it is a scam.

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This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk