Mila Joshua Yona
In recent years, South Sudan—a young nation still healing from years of conflict—has become a lucrative playground for foreign scammers and criminal networks. As the country opens up to international investment and cross-border movement, a dark underbelly of fraudulent activity has taken root, primarily driven by some unscrupulous individuals from countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and even beyond Africa.
While it’s important not to generalize entire nationalities, concrete reports and firsthand accounts suggest that a minority of foreign nationals are exploiting loopholes in South Sudan’s governance, economic systems, and weak cybersecurity infrastructure to conduct scams and illegal businesses.
1. Fake NGOs and Humanitarian Fraud
Perhaps one of the most deceptive criminal schemes involves phony NGOs and humanitarian fronts. Some foreign individuals register briefcase organizations claiming to offer relief aid, education, or health services. These “NGOs” are often used as a front to solicit donations from abroad or gain access to donor grants, which are then embezzled.
In Juba, several Kenyan and Ugandan-led organizations have come under scrutiny for operating without proper registration, channeling funds into personal accounts, or even inflating project reports to international donors. These scams not only steal from international aid but also rob South Sudanese citizens of vital services.
2. Visa and Employment Scams
A growing number of employment and visa scams have been reported where South Sudanese job seekers are promised work opportunities in Dubai, Canada, or the United States in exchange for hefty “processing fees.” Nigerian-led groups in particular have been identified in several cases where victims paid thousands of dollars but never received a visa or job placement.
Some fraudsters even operate through WhatsApp groups and Facebook pages, posing as international recruitment agencies. After collecting fees, they vanish—often changing phone numbers or relocating to another neighborhood in Juba.
3. Fake Currency and Counterfeit Dollars
Fake currency rackets, especially counterfeit U.S. dollar operations, are another growing menace. Several busts have involved Nigerian-led rings printing or laundering fake dollar notes. These scams target local traders, gold buyers, or naive business people looking to convert currency quickly.
A notorious case in 2023 involved a group of foreigners operating in a rented apartment in Juba, where they were caught with fake currency printing machines and over $500,000 in counterfeit bills.
4. Cybercrime and Online Extortion
As South Sudanese youth increasingly adopt smartphones and internet use, cybercrime has surged. Nigerian and Ugandan tech-savvy criminals have been implicated in romance scams, phishing, and financial fraud targeting both locals and foreigners.
A growing scam involves blackmail via social media. Unsuspecting South Sudanese men are lured into sending inappropriate pictures or engaging in video chats, which are later used to extort money. The scammers often claim to be women from Nairobi or Kampala but operate as professional fraud rings.
5. Forex Trading and Betting Frauds
Several foreign-run “financial education centers” have cropped up in Juba promising to teach South Sudanese youth about forex trading or cryptocurrency investment. Many are led by Kenyan or Nigerian nationals claiming to be self-made millionaires. Victims are convinced to invest in shady platforms with promises of high returns, only to be ghosted after a few weeks.
These forex scams mirror similar schemes that have flourished in Kenya and Nigeria, and are now being exported to unsuspecting South Sudanese youth desperate for financial independence.
6. Romance & Marriage Scams
Some foreign men—particularly from Nigeria—have been reported to pose as wealthy diplomats, businessmen, or UN staff to lure local women into romantic relationships or even sham marriages. Their ultimate goal is often to access money, land, or legal benefits such as residency.
In one case reported in 2024, a South Sudanese woman sold her family land to support her Nigerian fiancé’s “investment idea” in Juba. He vanished a week later.
7. Land Grabbing and Real Estate Fraud
Some foreigners, in collaboration with corrupt local brokers, are engaging in land grabbing and selling fake plots—especially in Juba, Munuki, and Gumbo. Victims, including returnees from the diaspora, are sold land that either belongs to someone else or is under dispute.
This racket is often orchestrated by Ugandan or Kenyan middlemen who operate with forged documents and false identities. After the scam, they cross the border or pay bribes to avoid prosecution.
8. Religious Manipulation and “Prophet Scams”
South Sudan’s religious community has also been infiltrated by fake prophets and miracle pastors—mainly from Nigeria and Uganda—who set up churches overnight and begin collecting offerings from desperate congregants. These religious figures often use psychological manipulation and staged miracles to gain trust and money.
Their churches operate without registration or spiritual accountability. In many cases, they flee with huge sums of money after a few months, leaving followers confused and financially ruined.
9. Fake Investment Opportunities
Foreigners posing as investors frequently organize seminars in Juba hotels, promising to help locals start businesses, import goods, or invest in Bitcoin. These get-rich-quick schemes typically require upfront “partnership fees” or “start-up capital.”
A Kenyan group in 2022 convinced over 150 locals to invest in a pyramid scheme disguised as an agro-business. The group disappeared after collecting over $100,000.
Why South Sudan Is Vulnerable
South Sudan’s vulnerability stems from multiple factors:
- Weak law enforcement and limited digital forensic capacity
- Lack of public awareness about cybercrime and fraud
- High unemployment and desperation among youth
- Porous borders and unregulated migration
- Corrupt local facilitators and officials who protect or profit from foreign criminals
What Can Be Done?
- Public Awareness Campaigns: The government, civil society, and media must work together to educate citizens on common scams and how to avoid them.
- Digital Forensics and Cybercrime Units: Strengthening the police’s capacity to investigate cybercrime, trace money flows, and monitor foreign activity is vital.
- Stricter Immigration Screening: The Directorate of Immigration should tighten screening procedures, especially for visitors claiming to open businesses or NGOs.
- Community Reporting Mechanisms: Citizens should be encouraged and protected when reporting suspicious foreign activities, especially in churches, real estate, and job recruitment.
- Cross-Border Collaboration: South Sudan should collaborate with Kenyan, Nigerian, and Ugandan authorities to track cross-border scammers and extradite offenders.
Final Thoughts
Foreign criminals thrive when locals remain unaware, when authorities are untrained or compromised, and when systems are weak. Not all foreigners are scammers—but the few who are exploiting South Sudan’s fragile institutions must be exposed and stopped.
South Sudan deserves development, not deception. It’s time to shine a light on the wolves in sheep’s clothing and reclaim the nation’s dignity, economy, and security.
