Over 3,000 phone numbers reported for suspected scam activities in Ghana

More than 3,000 phone numbers suspected of being linked to fraudulent activities have been reported on TrustGH, a Ghanaian scam detection platform.

The reported numbers have been associated with various forms of fraud, including e-commerce scams, investment and job scams, romance scams, impersonation and recruitment fraud.

The platform allows members of the public to report suspicious phone numbers, which are assessed using scam detection parameters and assigned risk scores indicating the likelihood of involvement in fraudulent activities.

According to the platform, more than half of the reported numbers have received the highest risk score, indicating a strong likelihood of scam-related activity.

The reports have come from multiple sources, including social media platforms, messaging applications, phone calls, SMS messages and fake websites. Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, account for a significant portion of the reported cases, followed by SMS and WhatsApp.

The platform also noted that more than 90 per cent of reported scam cases involved attempts by fraudsters to obtain mobile money payments or gain access to victims' mobile money accounts.

Investigations have further revealed that some scammers create fake social media pages that closely resemble legitimate businesses to deceive unsuspecting individuals.

A spokesperson for the platform said the increasing number of reports highlights the growing threat posed by online scams in Ghana.

"These numbers show just how widespread and organised scam activity has become in Ghana, particularly on social media. Our goal is to give the public a reliable way to verify suspicious numbers before engaging with them, so they can make informed decisions," the spokesperson said.

The platform said it works with relevant state agencies, including the Cybersecurity Authority and the Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service, to support efforts to combat scam activities and assist with investigations.

The public has been encouraged to exercise caution when dealing with unfamiliar phone numbers, especially before making payments, sharing personal information or engaging in financial transactions.