The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) says a growing number of Ghanaians are falling victim to social engineering and sharing WhatsApp verification codes with malicious actors.
This has led to about 187 cases recorded since 2023, it said in a statement.
“Malicious actors disguise themselves as familiar contacts or as authoritative figures (typically as administrators of Groups the eventual victim is part of). They craft persuasive messages to lure their targets to disclose their verification codes.”
These usually take the form of notifying actors through text messages about ongoing upgrades on their group platforms, and sharing URLs in WhatsApp groups, instructing members to click on them to update their information.
Join our WhatsApp Channel for more news
“The malicious actors then impersonate the victims and defraud their contacts. In some cases, the malicious actors perpetuate Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Swap fraud wherein, they impersonate the eventual victim to a mobile network operator and acquire a new SIM card,” the statement added.
In one such incident of SIM Swap fraud, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Bankers Association in 2022, arrested four individuals for stealing GHC 200,000 from victims.
