Businesswoman Sc@mmed Out of ₦509k by Fake Noodle Supplier
It’s one thing to crave instant noodles, but it’s another to have your money vanish faster than a pot of Indomie at dinnertime. A Nigerian businesswoman learned this the hard (and costly) way, losing ₦509,000 to a smooth-talking impersonator who promised stacks of noodles but only delivered disappointment.
The ordeal came to light on TikTok, where the entrepreneur, identified as @smile_wholesalefoods, candidly recounted her misadventure. It all began when a group, including a woman presenting herself as an official noodle distributor, visited the businesswoman’s store to pitch their products. The supposed supplier urged her to buy some cartons, and after a bit of negotiation, the deal was sealed—or so it seemed.
Before she could second-guess her decision, a delivery bus pulled up, seemingly confirming the legitimacy of the transaction. Wanting to close the deal swiftly, she wired over ₦500,000 to the woman she’d been chatting with. Payment made, the scammer confirmed receipt, leaving the unsuspecting businesswoman feeling reassured, if a little lighter in her bank account.
The plot unraveled, however, when the delivery driver broke the news: his actual employer hadn’t received a dime. A closer look revealed the harsh truth—the businesswoman had unknowingly paid someone completely unrelated to the real supplier or the Indomie company. The impersonator was simply an opportunist who vanished with the cash, leaving both the shop owner and the legitimate supplier empty-handed.
With a mix of frustration and resolve, the deceived businesswoman vowed, “This is why I’ll never make a payment on delivery again, no matter the circumstances.” She added, “They duped someone—the delivery bus is still parked here, but the money’s gone. There’s nothing I can do because I already paid.”
She further explained that she’d been in contact with someone posing as a supplier with a supposedly urgent shipment quota. By the time reality dawned, the damage was already done.
The saga quickly grabbed the attention of others online, prompting an outpouring of reactions. Some speculated the delivery driver was in on the scheme, while others sympathized with the businesswoman’s plight. Many advised using physical account verifications instead of relying solely on online conversations—after all, a screen name is a poor substitute for paperwork.
Whether the company or the customer ultimately bore the loss, everyone agreed: when it comes to business in the digital age, it pays to be doubly cautious—otherwise, the only thing instant about your Indomie might be regret.