friends help: My friend travelled to Africa on business and was robbed. - Help.com

why don you or he call the embassy?

He did but they answered him to go there. He did it once, I sent him money to do this (but I have no more) and the only answer was to go back a week later. He has no money even for telephone calls. Someone in the hotel pays for his feeding but is about at the end of his own financial means and patience. I can’t call the Embassy, as I don’t understand well spoken English, I wouldn’t be able to speak to them.

May I ask how long you have been friends with them ? How did you meet ?

Is he in Nigeria? If he could just somehow buy a lottery ticket, he could become rich. Everyone in that country seems to win the lottery. Just this week I’ve sent dozens of Nigerians money to help them pay the taxes on their lottery prize so that they can collect. When they do, they’re going to send me a portion. What a great deal!

lol. I think you’ve been duped anonymous. You should never ever ever send money to Africa. No matter what the reason is.

Of course, I thought of being duped, but it simply doesn’t make sense. The money I sent was very little, so it doesn’t count even for me if he never pays it back. And it was almost 2 months ago, and he’s still there. If I were rich it would make sense, but he knows perfectly well I’m not. Is IS in Nigeria, but I don’t think Anonymous’ suggestion would work. He doesn’t have money for the lottery. What I don’t understand is why the American Embassy isn’t willing to help. They know he has no money but don’t care. Believe me, this problem is real. We aren’t friends for long, but it doesn’t matter as the whole thing is not about money. Thanks to everyone who cares enough to answer me.

Eve…. One dollar (U.S.) is worth 117.90 Nigerian Naira. They would do anything to get just $1 from you.

Hi, thanks for your response. I understand what you mean but if $1 is worth this much in Nigerian Naira, then they can’t buy a lot of things on it. For example, I’m from Hungary, $1 is about 170 HUF, and it is worth next to nothing, about 0,5 kg of bread or less than 1 litre of milk. What can they buy on 117.90 Naira? Bye and thanks, Eve

I don’t know how much they could buy with 117 Naira. That is actually a really interesting question. I might try googling to see if we can find that out.

I doubt they would buy much with it.

Hi, Gabz, you’re really nice to deal with my problem so much. What intrigues me even more is why the Embassy is so unwilling to help. I read a website about their ‘helping destitute Americans’. But all they did was to order my friend to go from Lagos to Abuja and then told him to come back a week later but to do that he had not enough money. Since then he has called them several times, with no result. It seems they can’t do anything till the hoodlums who stole his money are not in jail. Is it really so that they don’t provide financial help? Have you heard about cases when the Embassy could help in some way or another? Thanks for your answer, Eve