Cape Verdean community denounces alleged scam involving supposed spiritual leader

According to the account of a Cape Verdean citizen, who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals and because it is a sensitive situation, the supposed spiritual leader guaranteed that he would be able to cure his wife of a serious illness and, at the same time, get her back together. Convinced by the words, rituals and promises presented, the man claims to have made several payments, which in total represent an amount considered to be high.

"He said he would cure my wife of a serious illness and make her come back to me. I believed him because I was desperate, I wanted to save her health and my marriage," said the victim. However, more than ten months after the supposed spiritual treatments began, the reality is quite different from what was promised.

According to the complainant, his wife is still ill and the couple remain separated, with no sign of any improvement in her state of health or in their marital relationship. "Today I realize that I was deceived. There was no cure, no reconciliation, only financial losses and emotional suffering," he lamented.

The case rekindles the debate about the actions of people who, taking advantage of the faith, emotional fragility and desperation of others, present themselves as healers, mediums or spiritual leaders, promising miraculous solutions to health, family or financial problems. For many members of the community, these practices constitute a clear form of exploitation and possible scamming.

Experts warn that, in situations of serious illness, it is essential to turn to qualified health professionals and recognized institutions, avoiding abandoning medical treatments in favour of promises with no scientific basis. On an emotional and family level, they also advise resorting to psychological support or family mediation, rather than miracle solutions that could make suffering even worse.

Some members of the Cape Verdean community argue that cases like this should be reported to the competent authorities, so that they can be properly investigated and, if irregularities are confirmed, those responsible can be held to account. "It's not about attacking religious or spiritual beliefs, but about protecting vulnerable people from abuse and deception," said one community leader heard by our newsroom.

The whistleblower says he is considering filing a formal complaint, not only to try to recover some of the money lost, but also to prevent other people from going through the same situation. "I don't want anyone else to suffer like I did. When we're weakened, we'll believe anything," she concluded.

This case serves as a warning to the Cape Verdean community and society in general about the risks associated with false promises of healing and paid spiritual solutions, reinforcing the need for vigilance, information and reporting whenever there are signs of exploitation of good faith and human suffering.