Ghana experienced 16,733 digital fraud cases in 2024. This number marks an increase from 15,865 cases recorded in 2023. Social engineering remains the weakest point in Ghana's fight against digital fraud.
Fraudsters exploit human trust, fear, and ignorance to steal money or personal details. These attacks include phishing links, fake public officials, and cloned social media accounts. This trend affects many unsuspecting users across Ghana's rapidly expanding digital economy.
This increase in fraud cases occurs amidst significant growth in Ghana's digital finance sector. Mobile money transaction values reached GHS 3.01 trillion in 2024. This is a substantial rise from GHS 1.92 trillion in 2023. Transaction volumes also increased to 8.1 billion in 2024, up from 6.8 billion in 2023. The expanding digital landscape provides more opportunities for fraudsters to target users.
Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Founder and Executive Chair of e-Crime Bureau, highlighted the problem. He stated, “We have all received calls where someone says, ‘I’m calling from MTN. Can you provide your PIN?’ MTN will not call you to request your PIN.” He emphasized that sophisticated fraudsters target users directly, not just technology. Banks and telecommunication companies may have strong systems, but fraudsters succeed by tricking customers into revealing sensitive information.
The Bank of Ghana's 2024 fraud report identified social engineering as a major vulnerability. The report directed payment service providers to strengthen authentication systems. They must also introduce customer-behavior monitoring technologies and improve customer education. Enhanced monitoring and training for mobile money agents are also crucial. These measures aim to curb the rising trend of digital fraud.
Organised groups use phishing attacks with links that appear legitimate. Users click these links, enter their details, and then face fraud. Criminals clone Facebook accounts, impersonate public officials, and create fake online identities. They also set up fake e-commerce websites to trick consumers into making payments or giving away information. These scams affect many Ghanaians daily across various online platforms.
Ghana's growing internet population exacerbates the problem. DataReportal’s Digital 2025 report shows Ghana had 24.3 million internet users at the start of 2025. Internet penetration stood at 69.9 per cent. Millions of users are now exposed to online platforms where brand impersonation and other frauds occur. This includes romance fraud, employment fraud, and recruitment fraud.
The rising fraud incidents threaten public trust in Ghana’s digital economy. The upcoming Digital Economy Forum, themed “The Trust Crisis: Why Fraud Is Holding Back Ghana’s Digital Economy,” will address these concerns. Regulators, banks, fintech companies, and cybersecurity experts will attend. Their discussions will focus on strategies to restore confidence and protect users. Strengthening cybersecurity measures and public awareness campaigns will be essential next steps.