The Cyber Security Authority released an official public alert regarding a surge in social engineering scams targeting residents across the country. According to the Cyber Security Authority statement, criminal actors are increasingly posing as high ranking government officials and staff of reputable public institutions. This trend involves the use of digital communication platforms to reach unsuspecting individuals with promises of employment or financial opportunities.
A report from MyJoyOnline indicates that the suspects often create fake social media profiles or use spoofed phone numbers to establish a sense of authority. The Cyber Security Authority explains that these individuals use psychological manipulation to gain the trust of their targets. Once trust is established, the scammers request sensitive banking details such as mobile money PINs or bank account passwords according to the official warning.
Citifmonline reported that the Authority has documented several instances where victims were told they had won government grants or were eligible for recruitment into the security services. To claim these benefits, victims were asked to pay processing fees or provide their personal identification numbers. The Cyber Security Authority emphasizes that no legitimate government agency will request sensitive passwords or financial credentials over the phone or through social media messaging apps.
To mitigate the risk of financial loss, the Cyber Security Authority advised the public to verify any communication claiming to be from a state official through official website channels or verified telephone lines. The Authority also encouraged citizens to report suspicious activities through the designated national cybersecurity points of contact. This warning follows a rise in similar fraudulent activities reported by various news outlets including GhanaWeb which highlighted the growing sophistication of local digital fraud syndicates.