141 Nigerians arrested over alleged mobile money fraud, business email compromise scams

The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has announced that 141 suspects have been arrested in a coordinated security operation targeting cybercrime networks in Accra.

The arrests were made in the early hours of Saturday, December 27, following a coordinated intelligence-led swoop in the Lashibi and Tabora suburbs of Accra.

The operation was carried out by the Cyber Security Authority, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, National Security and the Ghana Immigration Service.

According to the minister, 100 suspects were arrested in Tabora while 41 others were picked up in Lashibi, all of whom are believed to be Nigerian nationals.

“This morning, the Cyber Security Authority Ghana, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, National Security, and the Ghana Immigration Service HQ, conducted a coordinated early-morning operation targeting organised cybercrime networks involved in Mobile Money fraud and Business Email Compromise scams,” Sam George said.

He disclosed that a Ghanaian landlord who accommodated about 100 of the suspects in Tabora has also been arrested.

The Ningo Prampram MP cautioned that property owners have a responsibility to ensure their premises are not used for criminal activities.

Security agencies, he added, seized 38 laptops and 150 mobile phones suspected to have been used in cyber-enabled financial crimes.

The suspects are alleged to have engaged in offences including mobile money fraud, romance scams, sextortion, business email compromise and wire fraud.

“Ghana remains welcoming to all of our friends and neighbours interested in legitimate enterprise. However, if you are interested in committing a cybercrime, we will find you, arrest you, and deal with you decisively according to our laws,” the minister warned.