Ghanaians lost an estimated US$1.3 million to mobile money fraud during the first quarter of 2025, according to INTERPOL’s African Cyberthreat Assessment Report, which highlights the growing threat of cyber-enabled financial crimes across the continent.
The report identified mobile money fraud as one of the most prevalent forms of online scams in Africa, with fraudsters using phishing, SIM-swap attacks, fake promotions and social engineering tactics to gain access to victims’ accounts and steal funds.
INTERPOL said the rapid expansion of digital financial services has created new opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit weaknesses in mobile payment systems, including intercepting one-time passwords, taking control of accounts and carrying out unauthorised transactions.
The report also warned that the increasing use of artificial intelligence is making cyber scams more sophisticated, with criminals using AI-generated messages, voice cloning and other advanced tools to deceive victims.
To address the growing threat, INTERPOL called for stronger collaboration among law enforcement agencies, financial institutions and telecommunications companies, while urging governments to enhance public awareness campaigns and strengthen cybersecurity measures to protect users of digital financial platforms.