By Milcah Tanimu

Renowned singer and social activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, revealed that he was involved in scamming activities before the infamous “419 fraud” became widespread in Nigeria. Charly Boy shared this revelation in the latest episode of The Honest Bunch Podcast, co-hosted by actor Chinedu Ani Emmanuel, aka Nedu.

419 fraud, also known as advance fee fraud, involves a sender seeking assistance in facilitating an illegal money transfer. Typically, the fraudster promises the victim a significant share of a large sum of money in exchange for a small upfront payment. Once the victim makes the payment, the fraudster either concocts additional fees or disappears entirely.

Charly Boy disclosed that he engaged in scamming banks before the term “419” gained popularity in Nigeria. He shared insights into his early life, mentioning that he became a father at the age of 16 and had engaged in scamming activities prior to the widespread recognition of 419 fraud.

The artist also opened up about the impact of his father, the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, on his life, attributing some challenges to his father’s influence through religion and religious beliefs.

In a previous statement in August 2022, Charly Boy expressed unconventional views on marriage, referring to it as a “lifetime sentence.” He emphasized the hard work involved in sustaining a marriage, debunking the notion that love alone is sufficient for a successful union. Despite acknowledging the challenges, he described his 45-year marriage as a “perfect match made in heaven.”