The Ghana Police Service has arrested three suspects for allegedly impersonating public officials and engaging in various forms of online fraud targeting unsuspecting members of the public.
In a statement issued and signed by Chief Inspector Brigitte Babanawo, Public Relations Officer of the Criminal Investigation Department on Monday, December 22, the arrests followed a sustained intelligence-led operation by the Police Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team across several communities in the Volta Region, including Sogakope, Dabala, Dzodze and Penyi.
The suspects have been identified as Gideon Awudi, 25; Edem Soku, 33; and Judith Soku, 31.
According to preliminary investigations, the suspects created and operated fake social media accounts impersonating high-profile public officials, including the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, the Inspector-General of Police, and other prominent personalities.
These accounts were allegedly used to defraud victims through various deceptive schemes.
Further investigations revealed that the suspects are believed to be involved in a range of cybercrimes, including mobile money fraud, credit card fraud, airtime sales fraud, and online marketplace scams conducted across multiple social media platforms.
The suspects have since been handed over to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters for further investigations.
Police say they will be processed for court in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has urged the public to remain vigilant when engaging in online financial transactions and to always verify the authenticity of social media accounts before interacting or sending money.
