British nationals seeking fertility treatment in Nigeria have been warned to beware of alleged “miracle baby” scams involving staged births and people being falsely made to believe they have given birth.
The warning is contained in the United Kingdom government’s latest travel advice on Nigeria, where it also cautioned British nationals about financial scams targeting people in West Africa.
Under a section specifically dealing with IVF and fertility treatment scams, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) urged anyone considering fertility treatment in Nigeria to exercise caution.
The advisory disclosed that British nationals had been exposed to cases involving what it described as staged fake births, commonly referred to as “miracle babies”.
According to the UK government, some visitors have allegedly been deceived into believing that they had actually given birth.
The warning states: “If you’re considering fertility treatment in Nigeria, be cautious. There have been a number of staged fake births (commonly called ‘miracle babies’) where visitors are falsely led to believe they have given birth.”
The development has put the spotlight on the risks faced by foreigners travelling to Nigeria in search of fertility treatment, particularly where arrangements involve IVF, surrogacy or other assisted-reproduction services.
UK Sounds Scam Alert
The fertility warning forms part of a wider UK alert over scams targeting British nationals in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa.
The FCDO said scams could take different forms, including romance and friendship scams, bogus business opportunities and fake employment offers, warning that victims could suffer significant financial losses.
British nationals have been advised to be particularly careful when dealing online with people who request money, offer employment or business opportunities, or seek face-to-face meetings.
The UK government also warned about suspected money-transfer scams involving Nigeria and advised people who receive emails concerning transfers to Nigeria to independently contact the person said to be receiving the money.
It further urged anyone contacted by a caller claiming to be in distress to verify the claim before sending money.
‘Miracle Baby’ Warning
The IVF alert is particularly striking because it goes beyond the UK’s general warnings about financial fraud and specifically identifies alleged staged births as a risk associated with fertility treatment in Nigeria.
The warning does not accuse Nigeria’s entire fertility industry or all IVF clinics of fraud. Rather, it tells British nationals considering treatment in the country to exercise caution because of reported cases of staged births.
The UK government has also published separate guidance warning that international surrogacy can involve complicated legal and immigration procedures.
It advises people considering surrogacy overseas to obtain specialist legal advice in both the UK and the country where the arrangement will take place.
Baby May Not Automatically Be Yours Under UK Law
The UK guidance also highlights a major legal issue for British nationals who have children through overseas surrogacy.
A foreign birth certificate or court document does not automatically determine legal parenthood in the UK.
British intended parents may need to obtain a Parental Order in the UK before they are recognised as the child’s legal parents.
The process can also affect the child’s nationality and travel documents, with UK government guidance warning that securing the necessary documents to bring a child born through overseas surrogacy back to Britain can take months.
Adoption Ban Also Highlighted
The latest Nigeria travel advice also reminds British nationals that the UK has restricted overseas adoption of children from Nigeria.
The government warns that anyone who brings a child who is not biologically related to them into Britain without following the required legal procedures could face prosecution, while the child may not qualify for British citizenship.
The UK’s warning therefore places fertility treatment, overseas surrogacy and adoption under renewed scrutiny, urging British nationals to verify medical and legal arrangements thoroughly before travelling to Nigeria in search of a child.
The FCDO’s advice comes as the UK continues to maintain extensive travel warnings for parts of Nigeria over insecurity, kidnapping and violent crime, while separately cautioning British nationals about financial scams.
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