By Sarah Baafi
The Ghana Police Service has arrested three people for allegedly impersonating high-profile public officials and defrauding unsuspecting victims through online scams. The suspects were picked up after a sustained intelligence-led operation by the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team in the Sogakope, Dabala, Dzodze, and Penyi communities in the Volta Region of Ghana.
The suspects have been identified as Gideon Awudi, aged 25, Edem Soku, 33, and Judith Soku, 31. According to the police, the three are believed to have created and operated fake social media accounts in the names of prominent personalities, including the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, the Inspector-General of Police, and other senior public figures, with the aim of deceiving members of the public and soliciting money from them.
Preliminary findings suggest the group is involved in a wider network of cybercrime activities. The suspects are alleged to have engaged in mobile money fraud, credit card fraud, airtime sales fraud, and online marketplace scams, using multiple social media platforms to target victims across the country.
The three have been handed over to the Special Investigations Unit at the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters for further investigations. Police say they will be processed for court once the docket is completed and have assured the public that efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest any additional accomplices.
The Ghana Police Service has urged the public to exercise caution when conducting financial transactions online and to verify the authenticity of social media accounts that claim to belong to public officials. Members of the public are also encouraged to report suspicious online activities promptly to the nearest police station for swift action.
