Deposit K100 and make K1000 in 24 hours!" Sound familiar? Scammers prey on desperation, promising wealth without work—until reality hits. This article exposes their tricks and offers real pathways to success through education, mentorship, and resilience.
Tell me if you’ve heard this one before, “Deposit a K100 and you’ll make a K1000 back within 24 hours.” We’ve all told ourselves we’d never fall for a scam—that we’re too clever to be duped by amateur tactics. Until it happens. Yes, to you.
How Scammers Manoeuvre
Scammers exploit our innate desire for quick rewards—something valuable with zero effort. They know that there are people out there who want to get riches instantly, but they don’t know which person badly wants it.
They cast wide nets, testing for desperation, waiting for someone to leap into their boat of thievery. But other times, it’s not even desperation, it’s when you don’t see a scam for what it is that you easily fall right into it.
I have gotten a taste of nameless phone numbers that send me messages requesting funds or my ID number. There was a time when I was in the middle of unemployment and the message came in the form of an employment proposal. It seduced my need for employment, but caution stopped me from engaging.
You just want to know that it’s true, you want to believe that they are right, and the prize they offer you can be yours; they tell you that there are others who have won the prize before and show you images of their wins. They show you how easy and cheap it is to get it. They offer the prize to you on a silver platter, and in a world where everything is hard to get at times, can you resist?
Did I Just I Fall For That?
When you walk around townships, you’ll notice machines that resemble an arcade game. Get closer and you’ll realise that it’s a Bonanza, a slot machine that has hooked young men and women to abandon their school activities to try and win something. Addiction drives the cycle, spurring government crackdowns on these machines and removing them from small retail shops where you normally find them, yet they persist in some areas. Is it working? Kind of, the machines can still be found working in certain areas.
Online betting games have caused an influx of millionaire hopefuls to jump on the platforms and risk a lot of money for nothing or less.
The media is flooded with lifestyles of luxury that are mainly hyped up by the people leading them. In an age where children have easy access to the internet, they easily get misled and try to copy the lifesyles of those in positions of power and wealth.
Social media gurus influence them to ditch and mock a normal 9 – 5 job or drop out of a higher learning institution because, as they say, “I didn’t need that, it’s easy to make a million dollars now.” That mentality shifts their young minds to grab hold of whatever they think will lead them to success at a faster pace than being patient in life.
They listen to the “forex experts” who promise them fortunes with just a small down payment on their end, that will eventually turn into a regular payment until they strike gold. Which never arrives, but the promise of getting a lot out of little keeps them engaged.
Betting Scams & Fast-Cash Lies: How Zambian Youth Can Build Real Careers
- Strange Number - Report and block those strange numbers that send you messages that are way too good to be true. If it’s fast money, drop it fast. Poor grammar and spelling are instant red flags.
- Accidental transfer - When someone says that they accidentally sent you money and would like you to send it back, VERIFY! Call your mobile money service provider, yes, they answer and are there to support you.
- Strange links - Don’t click on that link! Links can automatically download viruses, and even worse, scammers can get your personal information.
- Sharing your NRC - Criminals use it to steal your identity and register new SIM cards for illegal purposes.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
There are ways of going about earning without the frustration of throwing your funds into the wind. Mentorship and education is vital. Here’s how to start:
- Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts - They have several programs they run throughout the year that support the unemployed youth.
- UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) - Offers several internships and job opportunities where you get to contribute to your community and make a positive change while learning valuable skills.
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) - Young innovators are needed in our country, and STEM Zambia helps those who are passionate about science and technology through one-on-one mentorships from industry leaders and also provides scholarships for underprivileged children.
- Online Opportunities - LinkedIn is a strong platform where people post job opportunities. Do your research in relevant fields you’re looking for.
Who To Look Up To In Zambia
Let’s highlight some young men and women you need to check out:
- Johnny Kalenga - Is a 23-year-old skateboard enthusiast, social innovator, and entrepreneur. He founded “Weskate Mongu”, a non-profit organisation dedicated to transforming Mongu's youth through the power of skateboarding.
- Olivia Tutu - A young woman who’s passionate about driving positive change and empowering youth. As the founder and director of “Youths on Sustainable Development”, she is committed to mobilising young people towards achieving Agenda 2030. Have a listen to her podcast called "Unscripted with Liv podcast", which dives into conversations about pressing global issues and young innovators in Zambia.
- Ruth Ngoma - Currently the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador for Zambia, Ruth'sexceptional leadership qualities and unwavering dedication garnered recognition from the current President of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, during the 2024 National Youth Indaba. This presidency afforded her the prestigious opportunity to represent Zambia on the global stage at the 2024 United Nations Economic and Social Forum in the United States of America.
These young men and women decided to make the change they wanted a reality and went for it. There is so much to discuss about redirecting young men and women to pursue a good endeavour, from how to save your money to how to spend it wisely.
