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Evil Spirits in the Gold Rush – How Fake Gold Scams from Uganda, DRC and Cameroon Are Conning Thousands (Warning 2026)
Africa’s gold trade is booming – but so is a shadowy world of fraud that’s claiming victims worldwide. Since 2025, authorities in Uganda, Kenya and Cameroon have uncovered dozens of cases: over 56 arrests in Uganda alone, recovery of roughly 900 million shillings (about R4.3 million or $240,000), and the same patterns repeating.
The “evil spirits” – a fitting name for these anonymous WhatsApp scammers – lure people with unbelievably low prices, perfect photos and what look like legitimate contracts. But behind the shine there’s usually nothing but air and greed. At best, it’s money laundering; at worst, total loss of your cash.
Recent cases lay the pattern bare:
Scammers operating out of Kampala (Uganda), Bukavu/Goma (DR Congo) and Douala (Cameroon) use exactly the same tricks.
Messages like these land in German (and South African) investors’ inboxes:
„Hello, thank you for the follow back — I appreciate it.
I specialise in sourcing and supplying high-quality 22K and 24K gold across Africa, with transparent pricing, secure transactions, and reliable delivery. If you’re buying, comparing rates or looking for new suppliers, I’d be happy to share updated price lists, options and procedures.
Let me know what type of gold or quantities you normally deal in. I’m here to support your business and make sure you get the best value.
Looking forward to connecting.
— **GoldAfrique Trading Co**
*Pure Value, African Gold.*“
They start casually: “We sell gold bars at an affordable price”, then send photos of neatly stacked bars on red velvet or dark cloth – gleaming, flawless, often stamped “999.9” or with serial numbers.
Reverse image searches quickly expose the truth: these are recycled stock photos, bullion ads or old press images. Real gold bars straight from mines or refineries look messier – scratched, fingermarked, uneven surfaces. In Uganda, the Police Minerals Protection Unit (PMPU) raids in Muyenga, Buziga and Lugogo uncovered exactly these fakes: zinc or copper cores with a thin gold coating that fail every proper test.
The price is the biggest red flag:
As of 7 February 2026, the LBMA gold price sits at roughly $4,950–$4,980 per fine ounce (31.1 g), which works out to around $159,000–$160,000 per kilogram for 99.99% pure gold. Scammers offer $58,000–$85,000/kg – a “discount” of 60–65% that only happens with stolen, smuggled or completely fake gold.
Legitimate bulk dealers give at most 1–5% off for real volumes.
The typical playbook is almost identical:
Contact starts on TikTok, X or Instagram (accounts like @nixy256 or @AyupuRonal15826 with hardly any followers, full of spam posts and numbers like +256 752 010544).
Then they shift to WhatsApp: building trust with photos, videos and “ultimate seller” contacts (often Congolese numbers like +243 823 129 507).
Prices get negotiated down (“trial” quantities at $85,000/kg or less).
Fake contracts follow – full of LBMA-style wording, SGS assay reports, export docs (Certificate of Origin, Packing List, Air Waybill), non-circumvention clauses and blank spaces for quantities and signatures.
They lure victims to “face-to-face” deals in Douala, Kampala or Entebbe: hotel bookings, airport pick-ups, visa help, invitation letters (often demanding passport copies – huge red flag for ID theft).
They throw in historical small talk (Amin, Mobutu, Lumumba, German colonial Cameroon) to build rapport.
Once the victim is on the ground or sends even small upfront amounts (“chemicals”, “clearance”, “SGS pre-test”, “escort fees”), the scammers vanish – or turn nasty with threats. In Uganda (2025/2026), networks in rented houses were busted; in Kenya and Cameroon, scammers with $618,000 hauls were arrested, along with fake companies and rented offices.
These evil spirits pose as legit traders, exploit cross-border routes (Uganda as hub, Congo as source, Cameroon as transit) and ride the real gold boom (Uganda exports over 46 tonnes a year). But genuine deals never happen over WhatsApp, at ridiculous prices or without verified licences from the Ministry of Mines/Energy.
Warning & Tips – Don’t Get Caught:
– Never pay any upfront “fees” – no matter how small.
– Don’t send passport copies or sensitive info.
– Check photos/videos properly (reverse image search).
– Price check: anything under $140,000–$150,000/kg = immediate fake alert.
– Report it: In Uganda call SH-ACU (0800 202 500, info@reportcorruption.go.ug), in Cameroon CONAC (info@conac.cm), or use Interpol / IC3.gov.
– Flag the platforms: report spam/scam on TikTok, X and WhatsApp.
The evil spirits feed on greed and trust – let’s break their hold with vigilance. Gold shines, but only the real stuff stands up to the test.
(Sources: Uganda Police / SH-ACU reports 2025/2026, LBMA price data, reverse image searches, media including The Observer Uganda, Daily Nation Kenya, CONAC warnings. As at February 2026.)
