Guinea-Bissau Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Guinea-Bissau's limited banking infrastructure and cash economy make it a target for advance-fee, mobile money and cashew-trade investment fraud.
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Guinea-Bissau is one of West Africa's smallest and least-banked economies, and its main export crop, cashew nuts, is regularly used as bait in fake commodity-trading investment schemes aimed at foreign buyers. With formal banking reaching only a fraction of the population, mobile money and cash transactions dominate, and scammers exploit this by impersonating transfer agents or offering fake currency exchange. Visitors are few, so tourist-specific scams are less documented, but travelers should still be alert to inflated informal fees at ports and border crossings.
Common scams
- Fake cashew nut export or commodity-trading deals targeting foreign buyers with upfront fees
- Advance-fee scams referencing Guinea-Bissau government contracts or oil exploration deals
- Mobile money agent impersonation to obtain PINs or redirect transfers
- Currency exchange short-changing using damaged or obsolete CFA franc notes
Tourist-specific scams
- Informal 'fees' demanded by unofficial intermediaries at the port of Bissau or land borders
- Unlicensed guides or fixers offering help with paperwork for an unadvertised fee
- Inflated taxi and boat-transport fares quoted specifically to foreign visitors
Online shopping scams
- Facebook Marketplace and WhatsApp sales for goods that never ship after payment
- Phishing messages impersonating mobile money providers requesting account PINs
- Fake international job or scholarship offers requiring upfront processing fees
Job scams
- Recruiters charging fees for overseas jobs or seafaring contracts that turn out not to exist
- Fake NGO hiring campaigns collecting personal documents and a 'registration fee'
Romance scams
- Online relationships developed over months before a request for money to cover a 'travel emergency'
- Profiles claiming to be foreign professionals or military personnel building trust before asking for funds
Investment scams
- Unregistered cashew-export or agricultural investment schemes promising guaranteed high returns
- Cryptocurrency or forex trading groups promoted on social media with no verifiable local presence
How to report a scam here
- Stop payment immediately and contact your mobile money provider to attempt to block the transfer
- Report the incident at the nearest Polícia Judiciária or Polícia de Ordem Pública station and request a written record
- Contact your bank branch in person, as phone fraud lines are limited
- If funds were sent internationally, notify your home bank or card issuer to dispute the charge
- Avoid engaging further with the scammer once you suspect fraud; preserve all messages as evidence
Local reporting & protection links
- Polícia Judiciária — Report in person at the nearest police station in Bissau
- Mobile money fraud — Contact your mobile money provider's customer service line directly
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your bank branch directly in person to report fraud, as phone-based fraud desks are limited; ask for a written incident record to support any dispute.
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 cashew trade investment offers from Guinea-Bissau safe?
Be very cautious of unsolicited cashew or commodity export deals; verify any company through Guinea-Bissau's chamber of commerce before wiring funds.
What should I do if I sent money via mobile money to a scammer?
Contact your mobile money provider immediately, as some transfers can be halted within a short window, and file a police report the same day.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance