The Cybercrime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department has taken two foreign nationals into custody following allegations of large scale cybercrime activities. According to a report by Modern Ghana the two suspects are believed to be the architects of a sophisticated phishing scheme that targeted the customers of several local commercial banks. The arrests followed a period of surveillance conducted by specialized digital forensic officers within the police service.
Investigators allege that the suspects deployed fraudulent digital links and messages to harvest sensitive login credentials from unsuspecting bank clients. While the specific nationalities of the individuals remain unconfirmed by the Ghana Police Service at this time Modern Ghana indicates that the operation has international links. Officers reportedly seized several electronic devices and telecommunications equipment during the raid which are now undergoing forensic examination.
Official statements regarding the exact monetary value of the alleged fraud have not yet been released. A Citi Newsroom report previously noted a rise in similar banking related cybercrimes across the Greater Accra Region prompting the Cybercrime Unit to intensify its monitoring of suspicious network traffic. The police have not yet named the specific financial institutions targeted although they have advised the public to remain vigilant when sharing personal information online.
The suspects are currently being held at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters as investigators work to verify the extent of the breach. Legal proceedings are expected to begin once the police conclude their initial inquiry and finalize the charges. The Ghana Police Service has urged individuals who noticed suspicious transactions on their accounts to report to the nearest station to assist with the ongoing investigation.