Across Nigeria and West Africa, conversations about fertility and pregnancy are often charged with hope, stigma, and, sadly, vulnerability. In recent times, alarming reports have emerged highlighting a disturbing trend: unsuspecting women are falling victim to so-called “pregnancy scams”—an issue that experts warn is growing, particularly as societal pressures to conceive intensify.
Dr. Chinonso Egemba, more popularly known as Aproko Doctor—a Nigerian medical practitioner and influential voice on health matters—recently raised the alarm on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. On September 15, 2024, Aproko Doctor cautioned the public against falling prey to deceitful individuals or clinics claiming that genuine pregnancies cannot be detected by ultrasound. Stressing medical science, he explained that any real pregnancy will be visible through ultrasound imaging.
His post read in part: “There’s a pregnancy SCAM going on: Anybody that tells you that another person cannot see the baby in your womb with an ultrasound scan is about to scam you. If there’s a pregnancy, it would be seen by ultrasound scans. A lot of women are being scammed this way. Then they pump them full of drugs to mimic pregnancy and tell them not to do scans. Then produce a baby and give it to the woman. It’s a criminal racket.”
This warning resurfaced following the viral circulation of a testimony shared by Bamike Olawunmi Adenibuyan, popularly known as Bambam (an actress and ex-Big Brother Naija contestant). On September 14, Bambam described what she called “God’s miracle,” recounting a report that a woman in her church carried a pregnancy for an unprecedented three years and four months before allegedly delivering a healthy child. The incredible nature of this account quickly gained traction online, stirring debate among both believers and skeptics.
In the wake of this testimony, Dr. Olusina Ajidahun—known as The Bearded Dr. Sina, co-founder of Priv Health and a member of the World Health Organization—publicly addressed the situation. According to Dr. Sina, the so-called “cryptic pregnancy” phenomenon is being misused by deceitful practitioners who exploit the hopes of women struggling with infertility.
In his response on X, Dr. Sina wrote, “Are we ready to talk about one of the biggest scams & frauds perpetrated by some hospitals in the name of cryptic pregnancy? A lot of women have given testimonies of miracle babies that they don’t know are stolen, and no one sees except their doctors.”
He elaborated that vulnerable women are injected with hormones to create pregnancy-like symptoms, shown falsified ultrasound results, and persuaded to part with huge sums of money. The deception, Dr. Sina alleges, extends to the delivery stage, when these women are sedated and handed a child who may have been trafficked, not birthed by them.
His statement was reinforced by findings from an in-depth investigation by BBC Africa Eye published between November 24 and 27, 2024. The BBC’s journalists uncovered a criminal network where desperate women—hoping for a child—were exploited with hormone treatments mimicking pregnancy, discouraged from seeking legitimate scans, then ultimately presented with babies believed to have been sourced illegally.
According to the BBC, “It’s a fertility scam that’s ruthless. Women pay large sums for fake treatments… then they are tricked into believing they’re pregnant and sent home with a baby believed to have been trafficked.” The investigation went further to expose facilities where victims, including teenagers, were reportedly held against their will, amplifying concerns about the network and depth of this scam.
Local experts say these revelations are particularly troubling given the high value many Nigerian and West African communities place on fertility. In some circles, the inability to conceive is still met with social stigma, leading families and would-be mothers to extreme measures and opening a wide door for dubious actors to exploit their desperation.
Speaking with us, Lagos-based women’s rights advocate Chidinma Eze noted, “We regularly counsel women who have suffered emotional and financial trauma after falling victim to these schemes. The use of fake hormones, restrictions on medical scanning, and isolation from family or external doctors are all meant to deepen the psychological manipulation.”
Health professionals urge the public to be vigilant. Several gynaecologists interviewed for this feature emphasized the importance of second medical opinions and warned against any practitioner or clinic discouraging basic diagnostic procedures such as ultrasound scans. “It’s a major red flag if someone tells you to avoid standard tests,” explained Dr. Matthew Obiakor, a reproductive health consultant based in Abuja. “Authentic pregnancies follow certain physiological patterns and are traceable through widely available technology.”
Legal experts also stress that facilitation of such scams, especially where babies are trafficked or women are treated without consent, could result in serious criminal charges, both under Nigerian law and international conventions on human trafficking and medical malpractice. Investigations, however, often face hurdles such as obtaining victim testimony and tracing complex networks across regions.
At a broader level, Nigeria is not alone in confronting such issues. Similar scams have been reported in Ghana, South Africa, and other African countries, with each nation battling unique cultural, legal, and healthcare gaps that make citizens vulnerable. According to comparative data from the African Union, unregulated fertility clinics and a lack of patient education are common denominators fueling this regional trend.
Yet, there is hope. Increased coverage by investigative media, social campaigns spearheaded by influencers like Aproko Doctor and Dr. Sina, and public awareness drives are pushing the conversation into mainstream discourse. Many advocacy groups now offer safe havens and support for victims, encouraging affected women to share their experiences and hold perpetrators accountable.
Despite progress, social media responses reveal a divided public: some are convinced by miracle testimonies, while others demand stronger regulation and accountability. “There has to be a balance between respecting religious beliefs and ensuring health standards are upheld,” commented Dr. Amaka Umeh, a lecturer in public health at the University of Ibadan. “Faith is powerful, but facts and safety must come first.”
In the end, the increasing notoriety of the “cryptic pregnancy” scam is a sober reminder of the urgent need for continuous vigilance within Nigerian healthcare. Whether approached from a faith, scientific, or human rights perspective, the central message remains: women deserve access to honest, evidence-based medical care—free from exploitation and fear. Authorities, advocates, religious leaders, and families all have roles to play in shining light on this shadowy practice and protecting women’s wellbeing.
Have you or someone you know encountered suspicious fertility services or heard of similar scams? What safeguards do you think should be implemented to protect Nigerian and African women seeking fertility help? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow us for updates and resources on health and wellness.
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