Financial losses from online blackmail and sextortion scams in Ghana have soared to GH¢499,044 in just the first four months of 2025, according to alarming new figures released by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA).
This represents a nearly fivefold increase from the GH¢103,663 recorded during the same period last year, reflecting the growing threat and economic toll of cybercrime in the country.
The CSA’s latest advisory noted a slight uptick in reported cases between January and April 2025, surpassing the 155 incidents documented over the same span in 2024.
The report attributes the rise in financial losses to more calculated tactics and the use of secure messaging apps by perpetrators.
The typical scam begins with fake social media accounts—often featuring attractive profile photos—used to initiate romantic conversations.
Once trust is established, the fraudsters manipulate victims into sharing intimate or explicit content, which they later use for extortion.
Victims are then threatened with the release of their compromising material unless they pay a ransom, usually through mobile money.
However, the CSA warns that sending money rarely ends the ordeal. “In many cases, victims continue to receive threats even after complying,” the agency noted.
Cybercriminals often escalate their activities by shifting conversations to encrypted messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, making it harder for authorities to trace them.
The CSA is advising the public to remain cautious: avoid engaging with unfamiliar online profiles, never share sensitive content digitally, and report suspicious behaviour using its 24-hour cybersecurity support services.
