Burkina Faso Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Burkina Faso's security and economic challenges, alongside a growing mobile-money economy, drive advance-fee fraud, mobile-money phishing and gold-investment scams.
Emergency number: 17 — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Burkina Faso's ongoing security and economic challenges, combined with rapid mobile-money adoption through Orange Money and Moov Money, shape a scam landscape dominated by advance-fee fraud, mobile-money phishing and fake gold-investment schemes that trade on the country's status as a major gold producer. Instability in parts of the country also limits the practical reach of formal consumer-protection and police services outside major urban centers.
Common scams
- Advance-fee inheritance or 'unclaimed funds' scams demanding processing fees before release
- Mobile-money phishing (Orange Money, Moov Money) via SMS requesting PIN confirmation
- Fake gold-trading or mining-investment schemes exploiting Burkina Faso's status as a major gold producer
- Fraudulent NGO or humanitarian aid distribution scams collecting 'registration fees' from displaced people
Tourist-specific scams
- Unofficial guides at Ouagadougou markets and cultural sites charging inflated unofficial fees
- Currency exchange short-changing at informal money changers
Online shopping scams
- Phishing SMS impersonating mobile-money providers to harvest PINs and one-time codes
- Facebook Marketplace fraud for vehicles and electronics requiring advance mobile-money payment
- Fake scholarship or visa-lottery portals collecting application fees
Job scams
- Recruitment agencies charging upfront fees for mining or construction jobs that don't exist
- Fake NGO job postings requesting paid 'training' or 'registration' before hiring
Romance scams
- Foreign-persona profiles targeting victims abroad, later requesting money via mobile-money transfer for 'emergencies'
Investment scams
- Ponzi-style savings clubs ('tontines') and gold-investment schemes that collapse after collecting contributions
How to report a scam here
- Report to the Police Nationale or Gendarmerie, particularly units handling economic and financial crime
- Report mobile-money fraud directly to Orange or Moov's fraud line to attempt to freeze the destination account
- Report unauthorized bank transactions to your bank and escalate to the BCEAO if unresolved
- Preserve all SMS, transaction references and phone numbers used by the scammer
Local reporting & protection links
- Police Nationale du Burkina Faso — Report fraud at a local police station or gendarmerie
- BCEAO (regional central bank) — Escalate unresolved bank fraud complaints through your bank
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your bank or mobile-money provider's fraud line immediately to attempt to freeze the destination account, and escalate unresolved disputes to the BCEAO.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
Are gold-investment offers linked to Burkina Faso trustworthy?
Legitimate access to Burkina Faso's gold sector runs through licensed mining and trading companies; unsolicited investment pitches promising high fixed returns from gold deals are almost always fraudulent.
What should I do about a suspicious Orange Money or Moov Money SMS?
Never reply with your PIN or a one-time code; verify any message by contacting the provider's official customer-service line directly rather than any number provided in the SMS itself.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance