MishaThere is the rat race. There are the get-rich-quick schemes. Then there is actually seeking advice and getting a mentor or at least trying to.
I never thought I would be scammed. I am Nigerian, for heaven’s sake. I should at least know the game, right? Wrong. Honestly, this girl got me good. I buried the memory for years, but recently, while scrolling on social media, she appeared again, and I was instantly triggered.
How I Found the Mentor
It all started when I came across a girl on TikTok living what seemed like a lavish life. Unlike the usual influencers flexing online, she seemed shy, grounded, and relatable. Gradually, she began sharing her story, humble beginnings in Africa, moving to the UK, struggling with mental health issues, and eventually building her clothing brand. I was hooked. Her story felt authentic and aspirational.
After a few months of following her content, she launched a mentorship service. I was 22, fresh out of university, and working my first full-time job, which was a corporate nightmare for another day. Kkeiko Donny, 30 mentoring sessions for £1,000. It seemed like a small price to pay for someone who would supposedly make me financially free. I even borrowed £500 from my then situationship to cover the cost. This felt like an investment into my future.
The Mentorship Experience
The first session happened as planned. I booked it on my lunch break, locked myself in an empty room, and there she was, camera off, mine on. Awkward, yes, but the session went well. She asked about my goals, we discussed ideas, and I felt hopeful. She also had a platform called Platinum World, an educational hub for dropshipping, trading, design, and more. I signed up for that too. Everything seemed legitimate.
Then came the second session. We went over my dropshipping store ideas, and I did my homework. After that, there was radio silence. Emails, DMs, messages on Snapchat, nothing. I eventually got a response saying that she would not be doing sessions until she finished relocating to Dubai. At the time, I was just relieved to have received a response. So I waited.
For another couple of months, I watched her conduct sessions for everyone else on her platform while continuing to ignore me. I made excuses in my mind and waited patiently. I snapped out of it when she announced that she would be offering free sessions to others while ignoring me, her paying client. I sent messages again, all unanswered. By this point, I had lost my job and was relying on this investment for financial guidance. The frustration, the shame, and the disappointment were overwhelming.
When It All Went Wrong
This was not my first encounter with online scams. I had previously almost fallen for an MLM scheme, but that was easier to get over. The emotional sting of betrayal hits differently when you genuinely believe in someone. Despite the embarrassment, I eventually blocked the monthly payments for her other platform and found out I could notify my bank. Thankfully, I was refunded. Losing £1,000 did not hurt, and getting it back did not bring relief. What stung was losing the dreams and guidance I believed I was investing in, another blow to my confidence during the worst period of my life. I was down bad and nearly didn’t get back up.
I cannot even begin to express my distaste for people who take from those they know do not even have a quarter of what they have. People who claim to understand serious mental health struggles yet put someone else at risk of experiencing even more hardship. Those who sell dreams only to leave them hanging are beyond my comprehension, and it is incredibly low.
Seeing her again recently on social media, successful, verified, and seemingly thriving reminded me of a hard truth. In real life, good people do not always win, and bad people often get away with it. But this experience taught me valuable lessons about discernment, trusting actions over appearances, and protecting yourself online.
What I Learned and How to Protect Yourself
If you or someone you know has been scammed by a social media mentor or an online course, it is important to report it. In the UK, you can file a report with Action Fraud. Keep evidence such as emails, receipts, screenshots, and any payment details. Reporting not only gives you closure but also helps prevent others from falling victim.
Being scammed is humiliating, frustrating, and emotional, but it is also a learning opportunity. You can move on, rebuild, and achieve your goals without falling into the traps of online mentorship scams. Always research, question, and verify. Investing in yourself does not mean handing over control to someone else. Taking risks is part of growth, but knowing how to manage those risks is essential.
Be careful online x
