The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has conducted active threat intelligence on social media and found online impersonation as a major threat in the month of June 2022.
Online Impersonation assumes a significant portion of fraudulent online activities.
The “unrestricted” nature of social media account registration processes grants all users the ability to assume any identity.
This has emboldened scammers who generally take on the profiles of known businesses as well as political and influential personalities in society for their criminal activities.
The CSA has made the following observations:
1. Impersonation targets include Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, other persons of influence; and institutions like the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Police service, the National Lottery Authority, and companies like Dzata Cement and Awake Limited.
2. Activities related to this scam include the promotion of fraudulent investments, loan scams, gambling fraud, Government agent scams (award of non-existing contracts, grants, and scholarships), fake recruitment offers, solicitation of funds and online service fraud.
The public and especially social media users are advised to note that:
- Genuine Government officials will not contact anyone via social media to offer them jobs.
- It is important to verify before you accept friend requests and engage public figures and influential people; someone may have stolen their identity.
- The CSA has a 24-hour Cybersecurity/Cybercrime Incident Reporting Points of Contact (PoC) for reporting cybercrimes and for seeking clarification and guidance on online links and transactions;
Call or Text-292, WhatsApp-0501603111, Email-report @csa.qov.gh
Issued by Cyber Security Authority 12™ July 2022
Official release attached
