MTN, Police And E-Crime Gear Against Mobile Money Fraud

MTN Ghana, the leading telecommunication network in Ghana and E-Crime Bureau has gear mechanisms to curb Mobile money fraud by holding a day workshop for security personnel in the northern sector, Friday May 26, 2017.

The workshop held at the Ashanti regional police command met respected security officers within the sector among other stakeholders aimed at equipping the security with requisite knowledge and information to aid them deal with mobile money fraud alleged cases.

The bold step is also aim at fighting the menace of fraud in partnership with the police service and E-Crime Bureau.

In his welcome address, Mr. Peter Bimpeh senior Manager, regional sales-MTN said, mobile money service launched by MTN in 2009 is to provide an efficient means of making financial transactions.

Innovative service, according to Mr. Bimpeh has been introduced on the platform including payment options, the international remittance service, card-less ATM withdrawal option, wallet bank to account, quarterly interest payments, among others offered in partnership with 16 banks in the country, which aim to drive a cashless agenda through financial inclusion.

However, Mr. Bimpeh noted the service despite its numerous benefits has creates an opportunity for social deviants to take advantage and cheat unsuspecting persons, hence, the need as service provider undertaken several steps to ensure that the systems are robust enough to provide a secured service.

According to him, “the Mobile Money service has experience a few setbacks with fraud which have so far been customer related and not system related”.

He noted some of the customer related setbacks are fraud cases categorized under: phishing, advance fee scams, overcharging by merchants, identity theft among others.

“Overtime, we are seeing a steady increase in the number of fraud cases in 2016 with an average of 28 cases per month, against 2017 where average of 43 cases are recording per month”. He hinted.

The serious cause for concern has triggered MTN to work in hand with the Police service and the E-Crime Bureau to bring the situation under control.

Mr. Antwi Boasiako president of E-Crime Bureau said, the training will not only aid police to investigate fraud cases, but to enable them understand the process involved. He said, the police are most important stakeholder in fighting the crime hence the need to offer this capacity building to equip them.

According to him, the police way of handling complain serves as means of offering customer education to the public, to be abreast with the information on the ground to support their duties.

The Ashanti regional police commander DCOP Ken Yeboah applaud MTN for Mobile Money service that has helped economic transactions, and pledged his support in championing against the fight.

He called on all individuals and stakeholders to join the police in fighting against mobile money fraud.