Scam verification and reporting platform TrustGH has identified more than 6,000 telephone numbers associated with suspected fraudulent activities in Ghana, with a startling 50% of the flagged numbers traced directly to activity on the social media platform TikTok .
In a statement issued on Monday, August 31, 2026, the platform said the numbers were uncovered through a combination of community reports submitted by the public and open-source intelligence (OSINT) investigations conducted by its team of certified cybersecurity professionals .
According to TrustGH’s analysis, TikTok has emerged as the single largest source of reported scam activity within its database, marking a significant shift in the digital fraud landscape in the country. SMS and WhatsApp also account for a substantial proportion of reported cases, while other indicators have been traced to Facebook, Google Business Profiles, telephone calls, and fake websites .
A Multi-Channel Attack Chain
The findings underscore a growing trend where fraudsters exploit social media platforms to initiate contact with victims before shifting communication to other channels to complete their schemes. TrustGH warned that criminals often use TikTok to attract potential victims—through fake advertisements, enticing offers, or direct engagement—before migrating conversations to WhatsApp, SMS, or phone calls where the actual fraud is executed .
This practice was also highlighted by the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Divine Selase Agbeti, who recently warned that cybercriminals now spend “days, weeks, months on social media studying you” before launching attacks . The CSA boss noted that fraudsters use information gathered online to profile individuals and pose as trusted persons to defraud them, describing cybercrime as “no longer a distant problem” but a daily reality affecting ordinary Ghanaians .
Social Engineering at the Core
TrustGH’s investigations indicate that many of the identified schemes rely heavily on social engineering techniques rather than sophisticated technical exploitation. Fraudsters impersonate trusted individuals or organisations—including bank officials, government representatives, company executives, police officers, recruitment officers, and legitimate business owners—to establish credibility and manipulate victims into transferring funds or disclosing sensitive information .
Once trust is established, victims are pressured to make payments, disclose one-time passwords (OTPs), share Mobile Money credentials, or reveal other sensitive information. These tactics can result in financial loss or account compromise without the attacker necessarily gaining direct technical access to a victim’s device .
Mobile Money Remains Primary Target
The platform found that more than 90% of the reported cases involved attempts to obtain Mobile Money payments or gain unauthorised access to victims’ Mobile Money accounts . TrustGH described the high proportion of Mobile Money-related incidents as a “significant cybersecurity concern given the widespread use of mobile financial services in Ghana” .
This finding is particularly concerning given recent data from the CSA, which recorded 720 cases of online fraud between January and March 2026—a 113% increase compared to the 338 cases recorded during the same period in 2025 . The Authority also reported that Ghanaians lost over GH¢3.4 million to fraudulent online investment schemes in the first six months of 2026 alone .
Fake Business Profiles and Brand Impersonation
TrustGH also identified a growing pattern involving the abuse of legitimate business identities. Fraudsters create fraudulent social media accounts, advertisements, and Google Business Profiles that closely imitate genuine companies, often reproducing legitimate business names, logos, locations, and publicly available information to create an appearance of authenticity .
In a related investigation published on August 16, 2026, TrustGH uncovered nearly 1,000 suspicious mobile numbers linked to fraudulent Google Business Profiles impersonating major food chains and restaurants in Ghana. Customers of Papaye, KFC, and Pizzaman Chickenman were among the most heavily targeted, with close to 100 suspected fraudulent profiles identified for each brand . The platform warned that customers searching for a restaurant may encounter what appears to be an authentic listing, call the number provided, and be directed to make payments through mobile money accounts controlled by scammers .
Government Response and Collaborative Efforts
TrustGH confirmed it is working with the Cybersecurity Authority and the Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service to support ongoing investigations into the flagged numbers . The platform is described as a licensed entity that collaborates with these agencies to combat scam activity.
The government has been active in combating cybercrime. Earlier in 2026, the Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, announced arrests of individuals involved in mobile money fraud, sextortion, and impersonation operations, including a sophisticated SIMbox operation dismantled in Sakumono . The Ghana Police Service has also arrested suspects linked to deepfake content targeting President John Dramani Mahama and First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Mahama .
The CSA has urged the public to call its 292 hotline to verify suspicious online transactions before sending money, with Senior Manager for Critical Information Infrastructure, Mr. Alex Awere-Kyere, warning that funds transferred to fraudsters are often difficult to recover once withdrawn .
Public Advisory
TrustGH is urging members of the public to verify any unfamiliar phone numbers through its platform before making payments, sharing personal information, or engaging in business transactions. “Members of the public can verify and report suspicious numbers through TrustGH.com,” the statement added .
