The Ashanti Regional Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a 25-year-old man, Emmanuel Boateng, for impersonation and defrauding unsuspecting victims by pretence.
Boateng, who is unemployed, was apprehended during an intelligence-led operation at his hideout in Amangoase, a suburb of Nsuta. Investigations revealed that he had been posing as Bright Appiah, a certified traditional herbalist and CEO of Nana Kofi Herbal based in Ntonsu.
According to police, Boateng manipulated promotional videos posted on social media by replacing Appiah’s original contact numbers with his own: 0551624074 | 0552902830 | 0548717154 | 0538011831
This deception led several individuals to contact Boateng, believing he was the legitimate herbalist. He then defrauded them of various sums of money under the guise of providing herbal services.
International Reach of Fraud
Preliminary findings show that Boateng’s fraudulent activities extended beyond Ghana. Victims in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other countries have reportedly fallen prey to his schemes.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command is continuing investigations and has cautioned the public to be wary of online impersonators.
“We urge everyone to verify contact information before making any financial commitments, especially when dealing with services promoted online,” the police advised.
Anyone with information or who suspects similar fraudulent activity is encouraged to report it to the nearest police station immediately.
BY Peter Quao Adattor
