Senegal Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Common scams in Senegal and how to report them to the Police Nationale, gendarmerie, and your bank.
Emergency number: 17 (police), 18 (gendarmerie) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Senegal is West Africa's most stable democracy and a growing hub for tourism and digital commerce. Visitors to Dakar and other cities encounter tourist-targeted overcharging, market scams, and unofficial guides, while residents and businesses face increasing online shopping fraud, mobile money manipulation, and investment scams. The Direction Générale de la Police Nationale has a cybercrime section accessible at policenationale.gouv.sn; victims can also report to any gendarmerie brigade. The police emergency number is 17 and the gendarmerie is 18.
Common scams
- Mobile money fraud — social engineering to authorise Orange Money or Wave transfers
- Online shopping non-delivery via social media
- Fake job offers requiring upfront fees
- Investment and pyramid scheme fraud
Tourist-specific scams
- Unofficial guides and overcharging taxis near tourist areas in Dakar
- Market pressure sales, fake handicrafts, and inflated prices
- Fake tour operators offering Goree Island or Casamance trips
Online shopping scams
- Fake social media shops and marketplace non-delivery
- Phishing targeting mobile banking or mobile money credentials
- Crypto and investment platform fraud
Job scams
- Fake overseas job offers requiring upfront documentation or visa fees
- Task scams via WhatsApp or Telegram with escalating deposit demands
Romance scams
- Dating-app and social media romance with escalating financial requests
- Long-distance relationships leading to mobile money or crypto transfer requests
Investment scams
- Pyramid and multi-level investment schemes promising unrealistic returns
- Fake forex and crypto trading platforms
How to report a scam here
- Report mobile money fraud to your provider immediately — Orange Money: 888; Wave: in-app support
- Call the police on 17 or the gendarmerie on 18 for urgent matters
- File a cybercrime complaint with the Police Nationale at policenationale.gouv.sn or visit any gendarmerie brigade
- Preserve all evidence: transaction references, phone numbers, screenshots, and messages
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Report mobile money fraud to your provider immediately — early reporting gives the best chance of reversing a transaction. Also contact your bank if a bank account was used.
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
How do I report cybercrime in Senegal?
Visit the cybercrime section of the Police Nationale at policenationale.gouv.sn or report in person at any gendarmerie brigade or police station. The Brigade Spéciale de Lutte contre la Cybercriminalité within the DIC handles more specialised investigations.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance