SHS students in Volta Region schooled on scholarship, romance and dating scams

Students from 24 Senior High Schools in the Volta Region have been schooled on prohibited cyber activities which included scholarship scams, romance and dating scams, mobile money fraud, hacking, and advance fee fraud (419).

Some of the participating schools were Leklebi Senior High School, Hohoe E.P. Senior High School, Bishop Herman Senior High School, Kpando Senior High School, Kpando Senior High Technical School, and Anfoega Senior High School, among others.

The sensitization organized by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) forms part of EOCO’s 2022 education programmes on Prohibited Cyber activities and related matters.

Mrs. Faustina Lartey, EOCO Head of the Public Affairs Unit, who led the sensitization stated over 35,000 students from the schools have been educated which is to create awareness of the negative and positive effects of the internet.

Mrs. Lartey said the team also threw light on the types of cybercrimes and also the effect these crimes have on the youth, individuals, businesses, and the country as a whole.

Giving details of the various cybercrimes, she explained that romance and dating scam was a crime in which the criminal makes the victim fall in love with him or her, through which they extort monies and other items such as mobile phones, laptops, and even cars.

She said in most cases victims only get to know their lovers were criminals when they have to meet in person adding that some even went to the extent of setting wedding dates with them but do not show up.

Mrs. Lartey indicated that as part of the mandate of EOCO to stop people from benefiting from crimes, they investigate and prosecute such cases when reported to them by the victim.

She said EOCO hoped that with the sensitization programmes, the students would be abreast with the laws and educate others on them, adding that this would not only prevent them from falling victims but also put them in check in case they have intentions to engage in such activities.

She emphasized the fact that ignorance of the law was no excuse, therefore the need to eschew such activities as there were laws that govern such behaviors.

Mrs Lartey also encouraged the students and the public to report perpetrators of cyber-crimes to EOCO and other law enforcement agencies, as that would make Ghana a safe haven for its citizens, as well as an investor-friendly place for business people who would want to invest in the Ghanaian economy.