There’s something about being in a hurry that often leaves us blind to danger.
And on this particular Thursday afternoon, I learned that lesson the hard way.
I had just received a call from one of my producers to urgently come and collect a movie I was supposed to edit. For those who don’t know, I’m a video editor by profession—that’s how I make a living.
The urgency was real. He was about to leave town, and if I didn’t meet him right away, I’d miss the job… possibly for years. And with the way things are, I really needed that money.
I dashed out with no cash in hand, so I stopped at the nearest POS stand to withdraw ₦2,000. Because I was in such a rush, I didn’t properly check the money. I just stuffed it into my pocket and hurried off to board a bus.
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When I got to my destination, it was time to pay the driver ₦200. I handed him one of the ₦1,000 notes, expecting ₦800 change. But instead of giving me my balance, he stared at me… hard.
Then he said something that shocked me to my bones:
“Are you crazy?”
Confused, I asked what he meant, and he accused me of trying to pay him with counterfeit money.
I was dumbfounded.
“Counterfeit?” I repeated.
I took the note back and looked closely—and to my dismay, he was right. It was fake.
My heart sank. I checked the second ₦1,000 note. It was counterfeit too.
Imagine my embarrassment. I immediately apologized and asked him to give me his account number so I could transfer the fare.
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I went to my producer’s house and told him what had happened. He felt for me and gave me some words of encouragement. But honestly, I felt terrible.
Lesson Learned
Never be in so much of a hurry that you forget to be conscious.
If I had just taken a moment to look at the money before walking away from the POS stand, I would have spotted the fake notes. Now I know better—and I hope you learn from this too.
If you’re not sure how to spot counterfeit money, here’s a helpful guide from the Central Bank of Nigeria on how to identify authentic currency.
Final Thoughts
Being in a rush can cost you more than time.
Always take a second to double-check things, even when life feels urgent.
It could save you from embarrassment—or worse.
Also, if you’re wondering what to do if you’ve received counterfeit money, this Investopedia article gives great advice on the next steps.
What About You?
Have you ever been scammed by a POS agent or received fake money by mistake?
Share your experience in the comments. Let’s help each other stay more aware.