The Romance Scammer Who Made a Small Fortune Posing as a WWE Superstar
Chibuike, a young man from Ikotun, turned to scamming after struggling to make money through various jobs. He began impersonating WWE superstar Cody Rhodes, which significantly boosted his success in the scam world. This story highlights the intersection of desperation and deception in the digital age.
- ▪Chibuike initially struggled to make money through various jobs and faced numerous rejections from clients.
- ▪He decided to impersonate WWE superstar Cody Rhodes, which became a turning point in his scamming career.
- ▪The story illustrates how the internet can facilitate both connection and deception.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Carlos BarragánThe Big StoryJun 1, 2026 6:30 AMThe Romance Scammer Who Made a Small Fortune Posing as a WWE SuperstarIn this excerpt from WIRED Book Club pick The Yahoo Boys, journalist Carlos Barragán traces one scammer’s journey from flop to fortune.CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyFor the first edition of WIRED Book Club, we've chosen Carlos Barragán’s The Yahoo Boys: Love, Deception, and the Real Lives of Nigeria’s Romance Scammers. Barragán took an old-school shoe-leather approach to a very online subject, flying to Lagos to embed himself with a group of young, desperate grifters. The account he brings back is a funny, sad, enraging read about how the internet can fuel heartbreak.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at WIRED.
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