Issa Soulemane, a Central African youth, became a victim of a sophisticated online scam in January 2026, losing 400,000 CFA francs after a former classmate lured him to Ndjamena, Tchad, under the guise of a study opportunity. Soulemane recounted that a colleague, with whom he had studied from 6th to 3rd grade, contacted him on Facebook, claiming his school in Tchad was recruiting new students and encouraging him to apply. "Il m’a expliqué que son école lançait un avis de recrutement de nouveaux étudiants et m’a encouragé de saisir cette opportunité," Soulemane stated.
Soulemane said he provided all requested documents, including a copy of his nationality certificate and parent contact numbers, for a program that supposedly cost 650,000 CFA francs for tuition, rent, and health fees. Upon arrival in Ndjamena, Soulemane quickly realized he was being scammed and was in danger when alleged school officials demanded the full tuition immediately. "Ils les ont pris et m’ont mis la pression pour appeler mes parents afin qu’ils envoient le reste de l’argent," Soulemane explained, "J’ai alors compris que j’étais arnaqué et que j’étais en danger."
The Deceptive Offer
A colleague contacted Issa Soulemane on Facebook, informing him of study opportunities in Chad. "J'ai un collègue avec qui j'ai étudié de la 6ème en 3ème. Nous nous étions perdus de vue depuis quelques années," Soulemane stated, adding, "Un jour, il m’a écrit sur Facebook pour m’informer qu’il était au Tchad pour poursuivre ses études. Il m’a expliqué que son école lançait un avis de recrutement de nouveaux étudiants et m’a encouragé de saisir cette opportunité." The colleague specified that one year of schooling would cost 650,000 CFA francs, intended to cover rent and health fees. Required documents included a copy of the nationality certificate, two identity photos, a birth certificate, and two parents' phone numbers. "Il m’a envoyé la liste des pièces à fournir," Soulemane recounted, noting that the sum "devait couvrir le loyer et les frais sanitaires." The phone numbers the colleague used to communicate with Soulemane are now no longer operational, according to Soulemane. "#StopATènè is the digital unit of Radio Ndeke Luka fighting disinformation and hate speech."
A Journey into Danger
Issa Soulemane departed Bangui for Ndjamena in January 2026, carrying 400,000 CFA francs for his supposed studies. Upon his arrival at the border, his former classmate, who had invited him, met him. Soulemane recalled, "Arrivé à la frontière, j’ai contacté mon collègue qui est venu me chercher. Ensemble, nous nous sommes rendus à l’administration de l’école où trois jeunes hommes se sont présentés comme responsables." At the alleged school administration, three young men introduced themselves as officials. Soulemane noticed that the environment of the supposed institution did not resemble a serious establishment. "Dès mon arrivée, j’ai remarqué que l’environnement ne ressemblait pas à celui d’un établissement sérieux," he stated.
The alleged officials immediately demanded the full tuition fee of 650,000 francs. Soulemane explained, "Je n’avais que 400.000 francs sur moi. Ils les ont pris et m’ont mis la pression pour appeler mes parents afin qu’ils envoient le reste de l’argent. J’ai alors compris que j’étais arnaqué et que j’étais en danger." His colleague, who had invited him, subsequently avoided him. "Il ne se préoccupait plus de moi. Je le voyais rarement dans la cour du prétendu établissement. Et quand je le voyais et que je m’approchais de lui, il m’évitait. Il ne m’a pas du tout assisté," Soulemane recounted.
Faced with pressure and difficult conditions, Soulemane decided to flee. He left without his luggage, found an acquaintance, and was hosted for five days. The acquaintance helped him with departure procedures and accompanied him to the border. Soulemane spent a total of two weeks in Ndjamena.
Lessons Learned and Warnings
Issa Soulemane recounted that after arriving in Ndjamena, alleged school officials immediately demanded the full tuition fee and pressured him to call his parents to send the remaining money. "Ils m’ont pris 400.000 francs CFA et m’ont mis la pression pour appeler mes parents afin qu’ils envoient le reste de l’argent," Soulemane stated, describing the moment he realized he was being scammed. Soulemane ultimately lost 400,000 CFA francs, his documents, and his time during the two weeks he spent in Ndjamena. He now warns other young Central Africans to exercise extreme caution when considering study opportunities abroad. "À travers ce témoignage, je souhaite mettre en garde mes pairs: soyez très prudents face aux opportunités d’études à l’étranger," Soulemane said. He also advises parents to thoroughly verify the credibility of institutions before allowing their children to leave for studies. "Aux parents, je recommande de ne jamais laisser vos enfants partir sans avoir vérifié la crédibilité de l’université ou de l’institut qui les accueille," Soulemane added.