In recent months, a series of sophisticated scams have emerged across West Africa, exploiting the name of the direct-selling company QNET. Fraudsters are using QNET’s reputation to lure victims with false promises of high-paying jobs or lucrative investment opportunities. Instead, these victims end up in situations of captivity, extortion, and even human trafficking.
This article provides an in-depth look into these scams, how they operate, testimonies from victims, and essential tips to avoid falling into such traps.
How These Scams Operate
Scammers primarily target young Africans seeking economic opportunities. They promise well-paid jobs abroad or enticing professional training programs. Once lured in, victims are required to pay upfront fees for supposed costs such as visas, training, or travel expenses. However, instead of the promised opportunities, they often find themselves held captive, deprived of their basic freedoms, and forced to recruit others into the same trap.
Recent Cases in West Africa
- Ivory Coast and Ghana: In February 2025, five young Ivorians from Groudji were promised jobs in Spain. Upon arrival in Ghana, they were held captive in an unfinished building in Bogoso. Deprived of food and sleep, they were forced to extort money from their families and recruit others from their village in exchange for their freedom. Two of them managed to escape and shared their harrowing ordeal after returning to Ivory Coast. (Source)
- Guinea: In March 2019, authorities in Conakry arrested 100 people involved in fraudulent activities linked to QNET. These individuals were accused of scamming numerous victims with fake job and investment promises. (Source)
- Togo and Ivory Coast: More than 100 young Togolese fell victim to a similar scam. Lured by fake job offers in Ghana with attractive salaries, they were forced to pay exorbitant training fees. Many realized too late that they had been tricked and found themselves stranded with no resources. (Source)
Victims’ Testimonies
The victims’ stories shed light on the coercive methods used by these criminal networks.
Mariam, a 34-year-old Ivorian, was detained for over two months in Ghana. She recounts:
“The guards followed us everywhere, even to the bathroom. We lived eight in a room and ate once a day, only rice. If we went too long without bringing in money, they would beat us.” (Source)
Another testimony comes from a young Ivorian who, after being lured by a job offer in Nigeria, realized he had fallen into a similar QNET-like scam. He was forced to pay large sums and was held against his will before managing to escape. (Source)
Official Reactions and Actions Taken
Given the scale of these scams, authorities and QNET have taken steps to combat these fraudulent activities.
QNET has reportedly prosecuted around 42 people in West Africa for engaging in fraudulent schemes using the company’s name. Trevor Kuna, QNET’s Chief Marketing Officer, emphasized the importance of raising public awareness about these scams and taking legal action against those responsible. (Source)
Additionally, law enforcement agencies in several countries have arrested individuals involved in these scams. In Burkina Faso, for instance, 14 criminals linked to QNET-related scams were apprehended, demonstrating the collaboration between authorities and local communities in dismantling these criminal networks. (Source)
Conclusion
Scammers posing as QNET representatives continue to exploit vulnerable individuals across Africa, using deception, coercion, and false promises to trap their victims. By raising awareness, taking legal action, and following safety precautions, individuals can protect themselves and their communities from falling into these dangerous schemes.
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