The Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised alarm over the rise of cyber slavery across parts of West Africa targeting Nigerian citizens, particularly vulnerable youths.
In a statement issued by the Ministry spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, it was disclosed that numerous young Nigerians – including minors – are being enticed to leave the country with false promises of high-paying jobs overseas, especially in crypto-related activities.
The statement explained that individuals are trafficked into advanced scam operations where they are forced to work in criminal ‘call centers,’ commonly known as ‘419 cyber-scam factories.’
“There, they are forced, under coercive and inhumane conditions, to send thousands of fraudulent emails, text messages, and calls aimed at defrauding victims worldwide,” the ministry added.
“Nigerians are therefore advised to verify all employment offers through official channels and report suspicious cases to relevant authorities for necessary investigation and action to curtail the activities of the perpetrators, ” the statement partly reads.
In recent months, Nigeria has witnessed a surge in crypto-related and other fraudulent activities, with foreign nationals increasingly exploiting locals to carry out scams.
The most notable example was when On December 10 2024, as reported by BitKE, the EFCC apprehended 792 individuals for allegedly conducting cryptocurrency investment fraud and online romance scams.
REGULATION | EFCC #Nigeria Busts Up Crypto Fraud Syndicate in Lagos, Arrests 193 Foreign Nationals
The Commission is working with international partners and will investigate possible connections to organized crime.https://t.co/vDxrWamCNE @officialEFCC pic.twitter.com/GoFuq934rM
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) December 17, 2024
Among them were:
148 Chinese
40 Filipinos
2 Kharzartans
1 Pakistani, and
1 Indonesian, while
The rest were Nigerian nationals
According to the EFCC chairman, the foreign suspects trained their Nigerian accomplices in executing investment and romance scams, using their identities as a cover.
“Nigerian accomplices were recruited by the foreign kingpins to prospect for victims online through phishing, targeting mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans and several others from European countries,” an EFCC spokesperson said.
“The Nigerians were trained to use fake profiles to engage victims on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram.
Once the Nigerians are able to win the confidence of would-be victims, the foreigners would take over the actual task of defrauding the victims.”
The more recent event concerns the suspected crypto scam called CBEX, which is short for Crypto Bridge Exchange. Users of the platform have raised concerns after being unable to withdraw their funds, sparking suspicions that the platform may have collapsed.
EFCC has issued a wanted notice for eight individuals, including Nigerians and Kenyans, allegedly behind the scheme.
REGULATION | @officialEFCC Releases List of 8 Nigerians and Kenyans Alleged to Be Behind CBEX Fraud
The platform has attracted users from various countries, including Kenya and Egypt. In Kenya, individuals complained of losing fundshttps://t.co/26kVa9blHG @DCI_Kenya pic.twitter.com/sNquFMaB4s
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) April 28, 2025
However, these types of activities are not confined to Nigeria or West Africa alone; similar incidents have been reported across the continent, including in South Africa, Kenya, and Namibia.
In Namibia, as reported by BitKE back in 2023, about 50 young Namibians were arrested in Windhoek, Namibia, on suspicion of being connected with an international crypto investment scam.
REGULATION | Local and Chinese Nationals Arrested by Namibia Police in ‘Pig Butchering’ Crypto Scheme – https://t.co/UZBht6991l https://t.co/k0gKEOw9KX
— All Namibia News (@NewsNamibian) October 16, 2023
The young Namibians reportedly agreed to collaborate with the police in an ongoing investigation involving some 10 Chinese nationals.
According to local police, among the 88 young Namibians, 50 are students who were initially lured with promises of marketing jobs but ultimately became victims of trafficking in Windhoek.
“Young Namibian males and females, mostly students, were recruited by the suspected foreign nationals and trained to create false profiles on Facebook and Instagram so as to lure unsuspecting United States of America citizens into a scheme that started with building trust with the victims and ultimately introducing them to cryptocurrency investments which will show quick profits and gains, enticing them to invest more,” a police spokesperson said.
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