THE CHARLATANS OF MARABOUTAGE

A growing scam

We would like to remind those who would be tempted to call on certain marabouts who flaunt their (imaginary) power on specialized sites, to never communicate, under any pretext, the name, first name, telephone number and address of a third person, to never leave or send photos to these “miracle workers”, especially by correspondence, and to never agree to pay for their services in cash.

The majority of these indelicate “individuals”, false marabouts and poor clairvoyants, pseudo-miracle workers, officiating from Africa, France, Belgium or Switzerland, on specialized sites which abound on the internet, are only skillful manipulators, real organized and well-structured blackmailers.

Many of them do not hesitate to ask people who are uncomfortable in their skin and, often, in vulnerable situations, for cold hard cash to carry out so-called maraboutage work.

Even more serious, some of them do not hesitate to ask gullible clients for their naked photos, supposedly required by the spirits to begin or end the ceremony. Some clients have complied and find themselves faced with a real dilemma, because these pseudo-marabouts become real blackmailers, violent, aggressive, even going so far as to threaten the dissatisfied client with having their writings, photos and those of their loved ones sent to the people concerned or even publishing them on the internet, if they refuse to pay the requested amounts again.

It is recalled that a true marabout is not a thug, he is in principle a man of heart, of faith, discreet, attentive and sensitive to the problems of his fellow men. He does not blackmail, does not threaten his “clients”, does not advertise on the internet, does not demand prohibitive sums, promises nothing, guarantees nothing. He is content with what he is given.

It is quite obvious that our objective is not to “break marabout” but to prevent, enlighten and warn consumers about the dubious and above all fraudulent practices of a large number of scam professionals, under the cover of illusory maraboutage.

The majority of these marabouts that we find on numerous specialized sites, proclaim themselves as being great marabouts with hereditary gifts, teachers, sorcerers, etc., reinforced by misleading, false advertising to give themselves strength and credit.

The responsibility of the publishing directors of the sites which accept such advertisements may be incurred by the victims of these marabouts.

It is also important to know that they promise everything, even reimbursement to their customers, of the amounts collected, without compensation. In reality, they are only buying time, in the hope of discouraging their victims from filing a complaint, before changing their address or returning to their country of origin.

NB: some victims have been ruined by these fake marabouts