Problematic Empowerment: West African Internet Scams as Strategic Misrepresentation

Internet scamming strategies associated with West Africa typically involve the creation and deployment of ªctional narratives depicting political turmoil, cor-ruption, violence, poverty, and personal tragedy set in a variety of African na-tions. This article examines Internet scammers ’ complicity in promoting these creatively dramatic, yet stereotyped, representations of Africa and Africans. Their approach exempliªes what de Certeau describes as a “tactic ” where scammers manipulate the space of representations produced by hegemonic forces in the West to realize subversive ends. The attempts of Internet scammers highlight the difªculties of creating self-representations that are both authentic and persuasive. Marginalized communities face difªcult com-promises in their efforts to be heard by those they perceive as powerful. This remains the case, despite new mechanisms of communication, such as the Internet, that make connecting (in a purely mechanical sense) much easier and less expensive.