Twelve (12) people have been detained by the Police as a result of a protracted cyber-intelligence operation, and at least 25 others are being sought for their alleged involvement in cyber-related offences.
“Investigation has established that the modus operandi of the criminal syndicate is to impersonate or hack into the social media accounts of prominent persons including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament (MPs), Heads of government institutions and corporate entities to defraud unsuspecting victims of various sums of money by promising them jobs, scholarships, publication of fake promotional advertisements and sale of products among others,” police explained in a statement on Thursday.
Nine hundred and seventy-three (973) fake social media accounts that the suspects made in the names of these well-known people and businesses have been taken down as part of the operation, according to the police.
At least 785 of the fictitious accounts were in the identities of members of parliament, 62 were in the names of security personnel, and 136 were in the names of ministers of state, ambassadors, and certain institutional heads.
Thirty-two (32) mobile phones, three (3) laptops, and fifty-four (54) SIM cards used by the suspects to carry out their crimes have also been found by the police.
Police in its statement further said: “The operation to clamp down on cyber-related crimes has been institutionalized and we would like to urge anyone who has fallen victim to any of the above-mentioned crimes to contact 0249850601 for further Police action. This is a dedicated number solely for this exercise.”
The twelve (12) suspects, Gideon Kove alias Billions, Felicia Nanewortor, Carl Kristal, Safari Zatey, Eric Acquah alias Cent Mona, Richard Agbadzi, Isaac Dortsue alias Barajah, Samuel Gadre, Moses Otchie alias Razak, Yonnah Boso, Sterling Kwame Doe and Wisdom Tornyie are currently assisting the Police investigation and will be put before the court to face justice, police assured.
