Online impersonation has been identified as a major threat on social media platforms.
This follows the active threat intelligence on social media conducted by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) for the month of June.
Impersonation makes up a significant portion of fraudulent online activities because of the unrestricted nature of social media registration processes, which grants all users ability to assume any identity.
This, a statement by the CSA said, has emboldened scammers who generally take on the profiles of known businesses as well as political and influential personalities in society for their criminal activities.
“The CSA has made the following observations: Impersonation targets include Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, other persons of influence; and institutions like the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Police service, the National Lottery Authority, and companies like Dzata Cement and Awake Limited.”
“Activities related to this scam include promotion of fraudulent investments, loan scams, gambling fraud, Government agent scam (award of non-existing contracts, grants, and scholarships), fake recruitment offers, solicitation of funds and online service fraud,” the statement said.
The Authority warns the public to take note that genuine government officials will not contact anyone via social media to offer them jobs.
And urged the public to verify before accepting friends’ requests and engaging public figures and influential people online as their identities may have been stolen.
The CSA assures it has a 24-hour Cybersecurity/Cybercrime Incident Reporting Points of Contact (PoC) for reporting online crimes and for seeking clarification and guidance on online links and transactions.
Call or Text – 292, WhatsApp – 0501603111, Email – report@csa.qov.qh