Ghana Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Common scams in Ghana including advance-fee fraud, romance schemes, and online investment fraud, with official reporting channels.
Emergency number: 191 (police, toll-free), 18555 (Vodafone/MTN) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Ghana has long been associated with advance-fee ('419') fraud, and internet fraud is common enough here to have its own name — 'sakawa' — with romance scams, fake gold-export deals and inheritance letters targeting victims abroad while local residents deal with a fast-evolving domestic scam scene. The romance operations are patient, running fake military, engineer or doctor personas for months on Facebook and dating apps before the emergency requests start, and gold and gemstone 'deals' remain a signature Ghanaian lure for foreign investors, complete with fake refinery paperwork and demands for ever more 'shipping' and 'customs' fees.
At home, mobile money is where most everyday fraud happens. MoMo scams range from fake 'wrong transfer' reversal requests and calls impersonating MTN MoMo or Telecel Cash agents to SIM-swap attacks that empty wallets outright; fraudsters routinely phone victims claiming a promotion or a mistaken deposit and talk them through the exact keypad steps that approve a transfer. Online shopping pages on Facebook and Instagram take payment and vanish, WhatsApp group 'investment clubs' collect deposits for Ponzi payouts, and fake recruitment agents charge upfront fees for overseas jobs and visas that never materialise.
The Ghana Police Service Cyber Crime Unit and the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) are the primary reporting bodies, and the CSA runs an accessible reporting channel by phone, SMS and WhatsApp. Tourists in Accra and Cape Coast may also encounter overcharging guides, fake charity and orphanage pitches, and accommodation fraud.
Common scams
- Advance-fee and 'inheritance' fraud via email and social media
- Romance scams targeting people overseas
- Online investment and crypto fraud
- Fake online shopping and non-delivery
Tourist-specific scams
- Overcharging taxi drivers and unofficial guides
- Fake charity and orphanage scams targeting volunteers
- Counterfeit craft and souvenir sellers
Online shopping scams
- Fake online shops and classified ad fraud
- Phishing messages impersonating Ghanaian banks (GCB, Ecobank)
- Mobile money (MoMo) fraud via SIM swap or social engineering
Job scams
- Fake overseas job offers requiring upfront visa or processing fees
- Fraudulent remote work schemes
- Recruitment 'agents' charging registration and medical-exam fees for non-existent placements
Romance scams
- Long-term social media relationships leading to money requests
- Fake military or professional personas requesting emergency funds
- 'Sakawa' romance operations running months-long grooming before escalating money demands
Investment scams
- Ponzi and pyramid schemes promoted via WhatsApp groups
- Fake gold export deals requiring advance payments
- Fraudulent forex and crypto 'trading academies' collecting deposits from members
How to report a scam here
- Contact your bank or mobile money provider immediately if money was transferred
- Report cybercrime to the Ghana Police Service Cyber Crime Unit at police.gov.gh
- Report to the Cyber Security Authority via the CSA app, call/SMS 292, or WhatsApp 0501603111
- For emergencies call Ghana Police on 191 (toll-free)
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
For mobile money fraud, contact your provider, whether MTN, Vodafone, or AirtelTigo, immediately, and for bank fraud call your bank's official hotline, using the number on your card or in the app rather than one sent to you. Speed matters, because funds are hardest to recover once they have been cashed out at an agent. Give the provider the transaction reference and the receiving number, ask for that wallet to be flagged and frozen, and note your case reference. Say you were deceived into authorising the transfer rather than describing it as a general complaint — it routes you to the fraud team. If you gave away a PIN or approval code, change it at once and ask whether a SIM swap has been performed against your number. You can also report to the Cyber Security Authority at csa.gov.gh, and a police report from the Cyber Crime Unit strengthens any bank dispute.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
What is the CSA in Ghana?
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) is Ghana's official government body responsible for cybersecurity. It receives cybercrime reports via the CSA app, call/SMS to 292, WhatsApp at 0501603111, or email at [email protected].
What is 'sakawa' in Ghana?
'Sakawa' is the local term for organised internet fraud, most commonly romance scams and advance-fee schemes run against victims overseas. The personas are patient and well-rehearsed — fake soldiers, doctors, engineers — and the money requests only start once trust is established. If an online-only contact ever asks for money, gift cards or crypto, treat it as fraud.
How do MoMo scams work in Ghana?
Common patterns include fake 'wrong transfer' calls asking you to reverse a deposit that never arrived, callers impersonating provider staff who walk you through keypad steps that actually approve a transfer, and SIM swaps that take over your number. Never dial codes at a caller's instruction, and confirm any 'mistaken deposit' in your own transaction history before acting.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance