Douglas graduated from University with first Class honours. He continued operating a Cab while he looked for work. One year later he was still a Taxi driver. He had been struggling financially. One Wednesday evening he picked up a client, Abayomi from Dalstone, East London. He was dressed in a very nice Navy blue modern suit and and a Black leather brief case. Abayomi asked to be taken to Hammersmith. As he sat in the back he was very talkative. They talked about Africa, the economy and financial situations. Abayomi asked Douglas about the Taxi business.. Douglas told him, he was struggling and he had financial obligations back home. He asked Abayomi what he did for living and he said he was a financial controller. When they got to Hammersmith before he came out of the cab, Abayomi told Douglas if he would like some help with generating an income to assist him with his financial obligations, he can give him a call. Abayomi gave Douglas his business card and a fat tip of Thirty pounds.
The following week Douglas received a phone call from his dad who said that the roof to their house was leaking and needed replacing. Douglas did not have any money left over after paying his bills and rent. He remembered the conversation they had with Abayomi and he looked for his business card. He called Abayomi and told him that he would like some advice on how he can improve his income. Abayomi suggested they meet late that afternoon in Nottinghill over a coffee. Douglas ironed his best Shirt and Trousers and went to work.
Later that afternoon he drove to Nottinghill and got there half an hour earlier as there was no traffic. When he arrived there, Abayomi was already there talking to another gentleman who left as soon as Douglas arrived at the table. Abayomi started telling him in a round about sort of way how they made money. He started to explain to him the easiest way to get started was by buying a credit card from him with a different name. He could start by buying a credit card with a £2,000 limit for £500. Douglas said he did not have the money needed to buy the credit card. Abayomi told him that he can get buyers to Abayomi and he would be given a commission and from that he could buy a credit card. Douglas inquired what other ways there were to make some quick money. Abayomi told him he needs to take one step at a time and that was the easiest. Douglas asked him where and how they get the credit cards, and Abayomi told him they either steal them or clone the original cards. He explained that banks have insurance and don't make any real losses. Douglas thought it was a bit dodgy but he needed money urgently. He bid Abayomi goodbye and promised to get in touch soon. He set off with the information and called his friends and told them to meet him at a pub near his house for a drink.
When he got to the pub, he found two friends already enjoying a beer. After the first beer, they asked him what news he had that he needed to see them that day. He explained to them what Abayomi had told him and they liked the idea. He told them that if they paid £600 they would get a credit card with £2,000 limit. Three other friends came later and he told them the same thing. They said they would get back to him. He went home feeling very hopeful.
The following day John called him and told him he had the £600. He organised to get back to him. He called Abayomi and told him he found someone with the money. They agreed to meet that evening in Dalstone. John had decided he does not want to meet Abayomi and he gave the £600 to Douglas as he trusted him. It was a short meeting. Douglas handed him the £500 in an envelope placed in between a book. And Abayomi put the credit card in a book he was carrying and passed it over to Douglas. He finished his coffee and left. Over the next few weeks he got his friends to buy the credit cards and since John had used his and everything was fine, the rest gained confidence in the credit cards. He bought his own credit cards. A few weeks later Abayomi had gained trust in Douglas and called him and told him he had something for him. They arranged a meeting that evening in Forest Gate, London. Douglas was getting confidence in his new found dodgy dealings.
When he got there, he found Abayomi with another gentleman. He was introduced to him as Bola. They sat on a table in a corner. After the first coffee, Bola explained that he can make more money, by selling fake birth certificates and documents to help people open bank accounts with fake names. Once again he was going to get commission. He set off that evening and told his 3 friends about it. At first they were not too sure about it, and after a few beers they decided to go ahead with it. Business was good and he was making money and sending half of it home and drinking the other half. He started wearing designer clothes and bought a new Golf car. He also started being a little careless and spending money on women.
Some months later Abayomi called him and asked him to meet him. This time he suggested Douglas go to his house. Douglas was not sure he wanted to do that, and asked Abayomi if he can take a friend. Abayomi agreed. Early that evening Douglas and John went to Abayomi's house in Enfield, London. After one beer Abayomi called Douglas into the dining room. He explained to Douglas that there is a way he can make £15,000 in one go. He explained to him how it works which involved banks taking a few pence Up to One pound from it's accounts members and people would not notice that the pence are missing. He said he had a friend who worked at the bank. All he had to do is get someone who would open an account with a different name and when the money was in the account they would split it in half. He would then give Abayomi £10,000 and he would keep £15,000. This was too big and risky and he needed time to think about it. Douglas told Abayomi that he would get back to him after he had time to think about it. After they finished their drinks Douglas and John left and Douglas was quiet all the way home. He did not get much sleep as that is all he thought about. He decided to talk to John about it and hear what opinion was.
John let greed take control and he offered to be the first. Douglas called Abayomi and they arranged a meeting between the three of them at Abayomi's house. When they got there Abayomi explained in more detail what would happen and once the bank account was opened they would be told when it would happen. They agreed and John parted with £500 for the documents and letters required to open the bank account. They left Abayomi's house and got into the car. John was scared and so was Douglas. They knew if things went wrong they would end up in prison. Neither of them had Visa's to be in the United Kingdom as they had expired some months ago. If caught they would be deported after doing prison time. They discussed and decided to risk it as everything else had gone well so far.
John opened an account the following day and phoned Douglas to inform him. Douglas informed Abayomi who then said he would call him to tell him when to expect the money. Abayomi would be told by his contact at the bank when it was going to happen.
A few days passed and no word from Abayomi. They thought nothing would happen and relaxed. It was 4 weeks later on a Friday that Abayomi called and told Douglas the deal was happening that evening. Douglas could not sleep at all that night. John became jumpy every time he heard sirens. He too did not sleep.
In the morning, John went to Douglas's house and they decided to go to the cash machine together. The money was there.
Douglas decided to do the same for himself and he too got the money. He also told a small number of people he trusted about it and they too did it.
By this time the police had been on to Douglas and Abayomi and had put a surveillance car that followed his every move. Eight months later as Douglas was driving along Kew Bridge, a Police car behind him flashed their lights and asked him to stop. They cautioned him and took him to the police station where he was questioned. They held him in the Police station while they gathered more evidence against him.
When he later appeared in court he was found guilty of fraud and his car and property were seized as proceeds of crime. He was jailed for Twelve months and when he had done Six months jail term, they released him at the airport where he was deported with just a small bag that had a handful of clothes.
When he arrived at his homeland, his parents were not aware. He called them from the airport to pick him up. His dad knew something was wrong but he did not say anything until they got home. After he had a shower, he sat down with both his parents and explained to them what happened. His dad was happy to see him, but furious that he broke the law in such a manner. His dad left the house to think and came back later that evening looking very sad. All his dad said when he got back that evening was if he had known the situation, he would never have asked for a single penny from his son..
Douglas had tried getting a job in Nairobi and failed. Two years later he started sinking into depression. He refused to talk to anyone, or leave the house and his mum was forcing him to eat food. He lost a lot of weight.
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