Elle, using the username "Massa", is a 30-year-old scammer operating from Lagos, Nigeria. Known for engaging in romance and emotional fraud, she constructs a false identity-posing as a white woman-to gain the trust of individuals online. Her preferred platforms include dating websites, social media, and messaging apps, where she seeks out emotionally vulnerable or lonely individuals to exploit.
Elle's method typically begins with friendly, approachable messages. She is often charming and attentive, quickly building a sense of emotional closeness. Over time, she shares fabricated personal details to enhance her story, often including claims of hardship, a difficult past, or aspirations for love and stability.
Once she has built trust, Elle introduces a crisis situation designed to manipulate the victim into providing financial help. Common scenarios include needing money for travel, medical emergencies, lost documents, or other urgent issues. These stories are crafted to appear genuine and emotionally compelling, often with a sense of urgency that pressures the target to act quickly.
Elle avoids live video chats and in-person meetings, typically offering excuses related to safety, technical problems, or unstable conditions in her area. She prefers private communication and may attempt to move conversations off public platforms as quickly as possible.
Her tactics are consistent with those used by organized scam operations in West Africa, where scammers often work in networks and share resources such as fake identities, scripts, and stolen images.
If you are contacted by someone using the name Elle or Massa, especially if financial assistance is requested, proceed with caution. Do not send money or share personal details. Report the user to the platform you're using and notify the appropriate cybercrime authorities. Staying cautious and informed is the best way to protect yourself from these kinds of scams.