Social media, private messaging apps and certain websites are full of job offers promising attractive salaries in Europe, the United States, Canada, Kuwait, Lebanon and other African countries. Some are genuine. Many, sadly, are well-organised scams.
Every year, job seekers lose money, hand over their personal documents and find themselves in acutely vulnerable situations. Young people, older adults and athletes, all in search of a better future, end up caught in the traps.
Hostage-taking, ransom demands, abuse of many kinds, rape, torture, blackmail and death are all too common. Only a fraction of these cases ever comes to light.
1. Check that the company legally exists
Before anything else, make sure the company or recruitment agency is real.
Look for:
- a professional, official website;
- a verifiable physical address;
- a legal registration number;
- credible online reviews.
Be wary of recruiters who communicate only through WhatsApp, Telegram or Facebook, with no professional email address or official website.
2. Never pay to get a job
The rule is simple: you cannot buy a serious job.
No legitimate employer in the United States, Canada, Kuwait, Lebanon, Europe or any other African country will ask you to pay fees to guarantee a visa, speed up recruitment, reserve a position or secure a contract.
Requests to pay “application fees”, “insurance” or “priority screening” should be treated as major warning signs.
3. Check the official visa procedures
Every country has its own immigration and work rules. Visit the official websites of the relevant embassies or government ministries for the details. These sites explain the procedures clearly, so never rely on unknown individuals on social media.
Remember that a job contract does not automatically bring a visa. Every step must be approved by the relevant authorities.
4. Protect your personal documents
Never send an unverified recruiter:
- a copy of your passport;
- your bank statements;
- your identity card;
- any sensitive information.
These documents can be used for fraud, identity theft or to feed exploitation networks.
5. Consult official sources
Before you decide anything, check with:
- embassies;
- public employment services;
- international organisations such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
These bodies can give you reliable information on labour migration and on the risk of scams.
Vigilance is essential
Offers that seem too good to be true usually are. Warning signs include very high salaries for jobs that need no qualifications, pressure to travel at once and the absence of a proper interview.
When you consider an opportunity abroad, caution is your best protection. Gather information, verify the details and never give in to pressure.
Working abroad can be a genuine prospect, as long as it rests on legal and secure foundations.
Box: tragic real-life cases that should serve as a warning
The plight of job seekers lured abroad by organised networks is, sadly, all too common. One such victim was Cheikh Touré, a promising young Senegalese goalkeeper who died in Ghana after falling prey to fake recruiters who had promised him a professional contract in Europe.
The tragedy, in October 2025, lays bare the heartbreak of sporting dreams destroyed by a scam. His body was repatriated to Senegal for his funeral in early November. Aged 20, Cheikh Touré was a student at the Espoir Foot Academy in Yeumbeul, Dakar. He travelled to Kumasi, Ghana, to join a friend after recruiters promised to secure him a contract in Morocco or Europe.
Like many cases, this one shows the risks of irregular migration networks that exploit the passion of young footballers and job seekers. One such network is QNET, which operates in Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
