Nigerian journalist and researcher, Reuben Buhari, has raised public concern after exposing a woman who allegedly scams unsuspecting residents by pretending to suffer asthma attacks and fainting spells in public.
According to Buhari, the woman stages dramatic episodes of “asthma attacks” in busy areas to evoke sympathy and collect money from passersby who believe she is in urgent medical distress.
In a Facebook post shared on Thursday, Buhari explained how he discovered the alleged deception.
“I did a post some weeks back about a woman I previously helped, who claimed to be asthmatic and in need, but was found to be scamming people by pretending to faint in public,” he wrote.
He further revealed that several people reached out to him after the post, confirming that the woman had been repeating the same tactic across different parts of the community.
“It was after my post that many told me that the woman does this ‘fainting’ gimmick all the time,” he said.
Buhari added that the woman staged yet another fake episode earlier on Thursday.
“Today, she ‘fainted’ in front of a house close to Paradise Park in Barnawa. I was notified and I asked for a picture. I instantly told them that she is the same scammer,” he wrote.
He warned residents to be cautious when approached by the woman.
“If this woman ‘faints’ in front of your gate, know that she does that for a living. If you still want to help her, help her, but know that she is a scammer.”
The journalist’s revelation has sparked conversations on social media, with many Nigerians expressing shock at how far some individuals reportedly go to exploit public empathy. Others have also urged authorities to address such fraudulent practices to prevent further exploitation of innocent residents.
