Romance Scam Ivory Coast – How to Spot Cote d’Ivoire Dating Scams

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By: Svenja Meismann, Member of the Board of Directors, World Association of Detectives

Dating a man from Ivory Coast can be exciting, but it’s essential to stay cautious, as romance scams originating from this region are increasingly common.

Online romance scams often involve individuals pretending to be French, while operating from countries like the Ivory Coast. These scammers target vulnerable individuals on social media or dating sites, building trust before exploiting their victims financially. Learn how this scam unfolds and how you can protect yourself.

Love Scammers Posing as French Businessmen

Using social networks and online dating platforms, african men pose as French nationals to connect with women worldwide. These scammers typically target middle-aged or older individuals, sending messages in French to establish authenticity. They easily find their victims via social networks or simply a dating app.

To enhance their credibility, these scammers claim to hold respectable professions. Popular fake occupations include:

Contractor
Car dealer
Cocoa trader
Antique dealer
Engineer
Soldier

How They Make Their Victims Fall in Love

Scammers intensify communication, often addressing their victims affectionately with terms like “ma chérie”. They frequently present themselves as widowed individuals with a child, claiming they are ready to find love again.

Soon, the conversation turns romantic. They confess their deep feelings and express a desire to visit the victim to build a future together. They promise the woman a relationship or even marriage.

However, before they can make this dream come true, they claim they must travel to West Africa for business. Common destinations include the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), Mali, and Burkina Faso, where French is widely spoken.

A business trip to Africa is a common theme in scam scenarios. It often leads to sudden “emergencies” where your online contact urgently requests money

In Africa, a Crisis Always Arises

Once the scammer “arrives” in Africa, a sudden crisis strikes.

Common fabricated scenarios include:

An oil rig explosion leaves him stranded.
He’s been robbed and has no access to his funds.
A car accident on the way to the airport lands him in the hospital.
As a UN peacekeeper, he’s injured, and the conditions are dire.
He’s falsely accused of drug possession during a routine car deal and detained by the local police.
A family member requires emergency surgery.
Customs officials catch him attempting to smuggle ivory and impose a hefty fine.

No matter the story, it always ends the same way: the scammer urgently needs money. He assures the victim it’s only a loan and promises to pay it back as soon as they’re reunited. But in reality, no repayment ever comes.

Victims Sending Money to Côte d’Ivoire

The scammer is often persuasive and sells his fabricated story convincingly. The victim feels an emotional obligation to help and sends money urgently via:

Western Union
MoneyGram
Ria Money Transfer

In some cases, the scammer requests a bank transfer, but the account name often belongs to someone with an African identity to avoid detection.

Once the money is sent, it’s gone forever. Victims rarely recover their funds, and the scammer disappears, leaving broken trust and financial loss behind.

Private Detectives in Côte d’Ivoire Uncover the Truth

For many victims, the truth is only revealed too late. The perfect man in the pictures doesn’t exist. The pictures are stolen and the identity is completely fabricated – a clear case of identity theft.

Behind these scams are Ivorians posing as French citizens. This is called romance scamming or love scamming.

Why Côte d’Ivoire Scammers Go Undetected

The scammers take advantage of the fact that French is spoken widely in Côte d’Ivoire so victims can’t recognize they are dealing with an Ivorian and not a Frenchman. Their stories are well crafted to gain the victim’s trust and get the money as fast as possible.

Private Detectives Expose Fake Identities

When our private investigators in Côte d’Ivoire check these individuals, they often find the same thing: the people behind the profiles are fakes. These so called love scammers use stolen pictures and fabricated stories to manipulate their victims.

Don’t get fooled. If you suspect someone you met online is not who they say they are, contact us today. Our investigators can verify their identity discreetly and save you from emotional and financial loss.

The Origin of Romance Scams: The Yahoo Boys from Nigeria

The Yahoo Boys in Nigeria were the original romance scammers, getting rich quick by robbing unsuspecting victims. Their name comes from the email platform Yahoo! which offered free email in the 90s. They used these email accounts to pull off their crimes, targeting victims worldwide.

How It All Started

In the late 90s, young Nigerians discovered that romance scams could make more money than hard work. This realization led to a surge in the number of scammers and a wave of criminal activity. Over time, big groups like Nigeria Connection and Black Axe emerged, preying on victims’ emotions and wallets.

What is a 419 Scam?

Romance scams in Nigeria are often referred to as 419 scams, named after the corresponding article in the Nigerian Penal Code that addresses fraud. The term highlights the common characteristic of these crimes: the scammer requests advance fees under false pretenses, such as love, business opportunities, or emergencies.

These scams prey on emotions, trust, and helpfulness, leaving victims devastated both emotionally and financially.

Scammers often send official-looking documents to “prove” their legitimacy, but these are always forged or stolen.

The Rise of Internet Scammers

Since the late 90s, internet fraud has become very popular among young people in Nigeria and Ghana. The allure of quick money has made thousands take scamming as a full time job.

Interestingly, these scammers, known as “Yahoo Boys” have a certain level of respect in their communities. Their flashy lifestyle, with luxury cars, big houses and expensive jewelry have earned them a strange kind of reputation despite being criminals.

In places like Nigeria and Ghana where English is widely spoken, scammers operate in English to target international victims. Their scams vary, but one common one is the fake US soldier scam to gain trust and emotionally and financially exploit the victim.

This growing epidemic highlights the importance of staying vigilant while engaging with people online, particularly when red flags such as overly emotional pleas or financial requests arise.

Romance Scams in French Speaking Africa

As romance scams became successful, other French speaking African countries quickly followed suit. These scams have spread to countries like

Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville),
Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire),
Madagascar,
Cameroon,
Burkina Faso,
Niger,
Mali,
Senegal
and Benin.

From these countries, scammers target French speaking victims, focusing on France, Canada, Belgium and Switzerland. But they don’t stop there. Victims in the USA, Spain or Italy also fall for it when scammers find French speakers on social media or dating platforms.

These fraudsters leave behind emotional trauma and in many cases financial devastation. Their tactics are designed to exploit trust and manipulate emotions so their victims feel obligated to send money.

A golden rule must be followed when interacting with strangers online: never send money to someone you’ve only met online and whose identity you can’t verify. The moment a request for financial help comes up, it’s a red flag for romance scams.

Every day, con artists extract thousands from their victims and there’s little chance of recovery. Even law enforcement agencies struggle to get the money back once it’s been sent. Protect yourself by being vigilant and seek professional help if you suspect fraud.

Datimg a Man from Ivory Coast? Are You in Contact with Someone Who Might Be a Scammer?

Have you connected with someone on online dating who claims to be from Ivory Coast? If you have doubts, act fast. Our private investigators can discreetly verify if the person you’re talking to is real or a romance scam.

Don’t wait till it’s too late. Contact our team today. We handle many romance scams and know what to look for. We can quickly determine if your online match is genuine or a fraud. Let us help you avoid being a victim and protect your emotional and financial safety.

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