Scammers in Ghana target people through mobile money, SMS, phone calls, WhatsApp and fake job adverts. People looking for work are a favourite target. Learning the common tricks protects your money, and employers value staff who can spot fraud before it costs the business. Some Ghanaian job sites even remind applicants never to pay a fee to get a job.
Common tricks to know
- The fake wrong transfer. You get an SMS that looks like a MoMo alert saying money was sent to you. Then someone calls, begging you to send it back. Often no money arrived at all. The "alert" came from an ordinary phone number.
- The prize or promotion call. A caller says you have won a prize from your network or a radio station, but you must first send a fee or share a code. Real prizes do not ask you to pay.
- The fake agent or customer care. Someone claims to be from your network or bank and asks for your PIN, or tells you to dial a code to "fix" your account. Dialling codes or approving prompts they give you can move your money.
- The fake job offer. An advert or message offers an easy, well paid job, then asks for a registration, training or medical fee. Real employers do not charge you to get a job.
- The family emergency. A message from a new number says it is a relative with a new phone who urgently needs money.