Lately, a lot of people have been asking the same question:
*“Why am I suddenly getting strange WhatsApp messages like ‘Are you home now?’ or ‘Would you be interested in dinner tonight?’”
At first glance, it looks innocent. Then suddenly, it switches into a long recruitment message promising unbelievable daily income. And if you’ve received one of these texts, you’re definitely not alone.
Let’s break down what’s happening and why these messages are becoming so common.
The Strange WhatsApp Message People Are Receiving
Many Nigerians are reporting a copy-and-paste message that usually goes like this:
“Sorry to message you so suddenly. My name is Mamphela Odins. I am an Online Program Coordinator in TradeNest Online Shopping Mall. We got your number from various establishment surveys…”
“Can you work from home with us as an Online Coordinator? You will NOT deposit any money. You will earn 100K–200K daily. Would you like to know how this works?”
Sometimes the name changes. Sometimes they claim it’s TradeNest, sometimes they try to disguise it as TEMU or a big e-commerce brand to build trust. But the script remains the same.
And for many people, it doesn’t stop at one message—these scammers target business lines, personal numbers, and even old WhatsApp accounts.
Real Experiences People Have Shared
To understand this better, here are some real reactions and stories from Nigerians who have received this message:
1. “This is the same pattern they used last year.”
One user shared:
“I received ₦1,000 from them. That’s how it starts. They ask you to like a page, send screenshots, and they pay instantly. Later, they move you to a higher ‘level’ that requires investment. Once they hit their target, your money disappears.”
This tactic is common among scam networks:
- Give small rewards upfront
- Build trust
- Introduce “investment stages”
- Disappear with people’s money
Classic social engineering.
2. “Their names never match—instant red flag.”
Another person said:
“Truecaller showed the number as ‘Alhakim’, but the WhatsApp name was ‘Delilah Lucia’, and the person claimed to be Ms. Mphela Abiola. I just laughed, blocked, and reported.”
So:
- One number
- Multiple identities
- Suspicious profiles
- Fake job offers
Huge red flags everywhere.
READ MORE: Tired Of Calling 180? You Can Reach Mtn Customer Care on WhatsApp
3. “How can Sunday Boy turn to Mrs.?”
Someone else said:
“After checking Truecaller, the number showed ‘Sunday Boy’. How Sunday Boy take become Mrs? Na scam ooo.”
The inconsistencies are obvious. Scammers rarely keep their stories straight.
4. “Some people are playing smart… until they get burnt.”
A final confession:
“I made 40k on one platform and 50k on another. Their trick is to pay you for the first three investments. The fourth one is where they strike. I stopped there. Abeg, who sabi another platform? My December must be detty.”
This is high-risk behaviour, and most people who try this eventually lose far more than they gained. Scammers use small initial profits to lure you deeper.
So What Exactly Is This WhatsApp Message?
Let’s be clear:
It’s NOT from TEMU
TEMU is a well-known global shopping app, but scammers love to impersonate big brands to make their messages look legitimate.
It’s a WhatsApp work-from-home scam
They promise:
- No capital
- High daily earnings
- Easy tasks
Then after a few “test payments”, they introduce investment stages—this is where people lose their money.
It’s a number-harvesting operation
Many of these scammers get numbers from:
- Random WhatsApp scraping tools
- Online forms
- Group chats
- Past leaked databases
How To Know It’s a Scam
Here are clear warning signs:
- The message is unsolicited
- They promise unrealistic daily earnings
- The “company name” keeps changing
- Truecaller name doesn’t match WhatsApp name
- They insist you join a group or “investment stage”
- They pressure you to act quickly
- They can’t provide a real website or office address
If it smells like a scam, talks like a scam, and types like a scam… it’s definitely a scam.
What You Should Do If You Receive This Message
- Do NOT reply
- Do NOT click any links
- Do NOT send money—not even ₦1
- Block the number immediately
- Report it on WhatsApp (it helps others stay safe)
- Warn your friends and family, especially elderly or younger users
Scammers thrive on silence. The more people talk about this, the less effective their tactics become.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve received one of these strange WhatsApp messages recently, don’t panic—you’re not the only one. These scams peak during festive seasons or periods of economic hardship when people are more vulnerable to “easy money” offers.
Stay alert.
Don’t let hunger or December pressure push you into the hands of online thieves.
And if an offer sounds too good to be true, it definitely is.
