According to the ministry, for several weeks, malicious individuals have been spreading content online, creating the illusion of official schemes that promise substantial monthly incomes, potentially reaching up to two million CFA francs, following a simple registration and without any service provision. This alluring yet entirely fictitious promise aims to mislead citizens and draw them into elaborate scam networks.

The official communiqué highlights the sophisticated methods employed by these cybercriminals to lend credibility to their illicit operations. They frequently resort to impersonating high-ranking state officials, including the Minister of Economy, Finance, and Budget, Adama Coulibaly, or his close associates. Some even appropriate their images or fabricate statements attributed to them to convince internet users of the supposed authenticity of these fraudulent offers.

In response to this escalating situation, the ministry firmly reiterates that these announcements have no affiliation with its departments and are exclusively the work of scammers. It therefore implores the population to exercise extreme caution and resist the urge to share personal or banking information with unknown entities on digital platforms.

The financial administration warns of the severe repercussions of engaging with such schemes. Beyond the obvious risk of financial loss, victims face potential personal data theft, extortion, and even blackmail orchestrated by these cyber-delinquent networks.

The ministry reminds everyone that these individuals exploit the gullibility of internet users to illicitly obtain funds or compromise their digital security.

In its statement, the ministry assures the public that it has already initiated the necessary procedures, in close collaboration with relevant authorities, to identify, apprehend, and legally prosecute the perpetrators of these malicious acts.

This alert comes amidst a proliferation of digital fraud across West Africa, where social media increasingly serves as a conduit for misinformation. Ivorian authorities therefore advise every citizen to thoroughly verify the origin of information before undertaking any online registration or transaction.