18/08/2026
Juba money exchanger loses $1,800 in alleged counterfeit currency scam, blames it on ‘witchcraft’
A Juba money exchanger says he lost US$1,800 in an alleged counterfeit currency scam, claiming he cannot explain how he failed to detect the fake notes.
Akech Deng Ngor said a man approached his exchange centre at around 1:43 p.m. to exchange the money. He said he checked the notes for their colour, size and printing before completing the transaction.
However, less than a minute after the man left, Akech said he realized the notes were allegedly counterfeit. He tried to follow the suspect but said another man was waiting outside on a motorcycle, allowing them to escape.
Akech, who has two years of experience in the business, said the incident left him confused, describing it as evidence that “magic is real.”
He has since warned mobile money agents and currency dealers to exercise extra caution when handling large cash transactions, especially with unfamiliar customers.
The authenticity of the notes shown in the photo has not been independently verified.
