Nigerien security forces have put an end to the activities of a particularly elaborate fraud network in the Zinder region, in eastern Niger .

The network, described as an alleged mafia composed of four individuals , including three Nigeriens and one Nigerian , operated primarily at night . The suspects, aged between 40 and 83 , posed as "money-distributing geniuses" in order to trap their victims.

The modus operandi relied on a carefully orchestrated scenario. When a victim was lured in, one of the group members, presenting himself as a marabout (a traditional healer), would begin incantations. Shortly after, an 83-year- old man, masked and dressed in a black robe, would appear as a supposed genie, brandishing bundles of counterfeit 10,000 FCFA notes .

Seduced by this demonstration, the victims were then convinced to hand over large sums of money , supposedly to buy perfumes or mystical substances intended to transform the counterfeit bills into real money. Once the money was collected, the fraudsters disappeared.

The investigation conducted by the Inter-regional Service of the Judicial Police (SIRPJ) led to the dismantling of the network . Three suspects were arrested, while a fourth is currently at large .

During the operation, the police seized 3.27 million CFA francs in counterfeit bills , a vehicle , as well as several ritual objects and liquids used in fraudulent stagings.

Those arrested have been handed over to the justice system. Authorities are urging the public to be vigilant , reminding them that this type of scam relies on psychological manipulation and the victims' gullibility.