The wisdom for navigating today’s digital trickery is hidden in the language of our ancestors.
In our rush to adapt to the digital world, we often forget that human nature, including deception, hasn’t changed. The “new” tricks of online scammers are often just old wolves in digital sheep’s clothing.
Long before we had terms like “phishing” or “advance-fee fraud,” our Igbo ancestors had already codified the defense against them in our proverbs. These aren’t just sayings; they are a timeless security manual.
Let’s decode three essential proverbs that arm us against the most common online scams.
1. “Onye uto ochi, o nyiri ya anya.”
(He who is enticed by a sweet thing, it has blinded him.)
The Modern Scam: The “Too-Good-To-Be-True” offer. This is the flashy ad promising a guaranteed ROI, the email saying you’ve won a lottery you never entered, or the social media message offering a “limited-time” deal that seems too generous. It’s designed to trigger greed and bypass logic.
The Digital Defense: This proverb is a warning about emotional manipulation. The “sweet thing”—the promise of easy money or a free iPhone- creates a blind spot. It makes you ignore the red flags you would normally see.
Your Action: When an offer feels too good to be true, hear this proverb in your mind. Let it be the alarm bell that stops you from clicking. Ask yourself: “Is this ‘sweet thing’ blinding me to the risks?” Then, verify, research, and consult someone before you act.
2. “Ebe onye dara, ka ozo si ezie.”
(It is where a person fell that others learn to walk carefully.)
The Modern Scam: The ever-evolving tactics of scammers. Just as we learn to spot one type of phishing email, another, more sophisticated one appears. This proverb isn’t about shame; it’s about shared intelligence.
The Digital Defense: This is the principle behind our “Community as Firewall.” When a family member, friend, or neighbor falls for a scam, their experience is a crucial data point for the entire community. Their “fall” becomes a lesson that helps everyone else “walk carefully.”
Your Action: Break the silence. If you or someone you know is targeted by a scam, share the story (anonymously if needed). Tell your family WhatsApp group: “Watch out for this new message going around.” By sharing our experiences, we collectively build a map of the digital minefield, making it safer for all of us to navigate.
3. “Okuko were àkpà kworo àkpà, ègōlī àmā ya öfuma.”
(When a hen uses its foot to scratch the ground, it knows what is good for it.)
The Modern Scam: The pressure to act immediately. Scammers create a false sense of urgency—”Your account will be closed in 24 hours!” or “This offer expires in one hour!”—to force you into a rash decision without proper scrutiny.
The Digital Defense: This proverb champions discernment and due diligence. The hen doesn’t scratch randomly; it is deliberate, searching for genuine sustenance among the dirt. It ignores the pebbles and focuses on the real nourishment.
Your Action: When faced with an urgent online demand, channel the hen. Be deliberate. Slow down. Scrutinize the message. Look for poor grammar, suspicious email addresses, and unnatural language. This “scratching” is your verification process. Never let a stranger online dictate your timeline. A genuine institution will always give you time to verify.
The Unbroken Chain of Wisdom
The scammers’ tactics may be digital, but their psychology is ancient. They prey on hope, fear, greed, and urgency — emotions our proverbs have taught us to master for generations.
We don’t need to feel lost in this new digital frontier. We simply need to listen to the voices of our past. They are already showing us the path to safety.
This is the power of the DijịỌma Way. We don’t import foreign concepts; we reconnect you with the innate wisdom you already possess, translating it into a shield for the digital age.
Daalụ for reading! What other Igbo proverbs do you think hold lessons for digital life? Share them with us in the comments or on social media using #CulturalCode.
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