N180m Fraud Claim Is All Cruise – VeryDarkMan
Controversial social media activist Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has confessed to fabricating a story about ₦180 million allegedly disappearing from his NGO’s account.
He described the false claim as a deliberate experiment to expose how easily unverified information spreads on social media.
In a video shared on his Instagram, the activist explained the backlash he faced and his reasons for orchestrating the stunt.
“Since the ₦180 million story came out, I’ve seen reactions I didn’t expect,” he said. “But everything I’ve done on social media reflects who I am. I wasn’t looking for validation.”
I planned the 180 million Naira hack show, the money was not hacked at all, people are just stup!d to not realize it was all cruise – Very Dark Man slams back at everyone that came for him pic.twitter.com/D77oSwtOlY
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) December 31, 2024
VeryDarkMan, who is known for advocating against scams and raising fraud awareness, expressed frustration over the personal attacks he received, including insults directed at his mother.
“I saw those comments and asked myself, what’s my crime? All I do is advocate, help people recover their money, and create awareness to prevent scams. Sometimes, I even use my own money, or borrow, because I want a better Nigeria,” he said.
READ ALSO: VeryDarkMan Recovers N78m From Alleged N180m Theft
He criticized the public for accepting and spreading unverified claims without questioning their authenticity.
“You know, 80% of social media users are stupid, right? This situation proves it. I did this intentionally to show how quickly people believe and share false information without scrutiny.
“If ₦180 million was truly missing, why would I go to Jos instead of Abuja, where the police, EFCC, and cybercrime offices are located? Nobody stopped to analyze this.”
VeryDarkMan likened the spread of his fake story to other instances of misinformation on social media, lamenting the decline of critical thinking online.
“Someone from Niger recently claimed that France gave Tinubu money to open a military base in the North East. No one asked for proof or evidence; they just ran with it. That’s the problem with social media today.”
The activist’s revelation has he sparked mixed reactions. While some commend his efforts to highlight the dangers of misinformation, others criticize his approach as manipulative and deceitful.
One user @Gbemisola CFC, said, “VeryDaftMan, you planned everything but you’re now acting like people just decided to create a propaganda about 180milla missing in your Website just to drag you. Are you guys sure this boy is okay sha?”
Another user, @PatrioticTeacher, expressed disappointment, saying, “During the whole hurdle, I stood by you, believing we could give you the benefit of the doubt. However, did you inform higher stakeholders when you planned the prank? People like @DONJAZZY and so on… You should have done that for solidarity.”
Similarly, @Adémola criticized the activist, stating, “He’s just a clout chaser seeking attention and validation. This has done nothing but prove the narrative people peddle about Nigerians and money. Why is he playing with people’s feelings over something that isn’t true? Does he expect silence?”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
