The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) have launched a fraud reporting campaign to combat romance fraud in Ghana.
The initiative aims to raise awareness and encourage the public to report fraudulent activities, particularly scams involving online relationships where victims are deceived and manipulated for financial gain.
As part of the campaign, EOCO and NCA will introduce educational resources, enhance intelligence-sharing, and engage the public through various initiatives aimed at disrupting and dismantling fraud networks.
The campaign will feature a multimedia awareness drive, including roadside posters, social media outreach, and community engagement programmes to ensure widespread public participation.
Additionally, the agencies have introduced two dedicated fraud-reporting hotlines: 0547-419-419 and 0800-910-910, urging the public to report suspected fraud cases.
Collective Action
The International Liaison Officer of the NCA, Dominic Cummins, highlighted the rising threat of fraud and the urgent need for global cooperation to address it.
“Fraud accounts for over 40 percent of crimes in the UK, making it a key priority for the UK government to tackle both domestically and internationally,” he noted.
According to Mr. Cummins, fraudsters prey on vulnerable individuals using sophisticated deception tactics, leading to severe financial and emotional distress. Due to the online nature of these crimes, perpetrators can operate across borders with relative anonymity, making international collaboration crucial in identifying and prosecuting offenders.
He further emphasized the long-standing partnership between the NCA and EOCO, stating that their cooperation has been instrumental in tackling organised crime affecting both Ghana and the UK.
Implications
The Deputy Director of Legal and Prosecutions at EOCO, Anthony Leo Siamah, underscored the serious impact of romance fraud, stressing both its legal consequences and ongoing efforts to combat it.
“Romance fraud not only drains victims of their hard-earned money but also causes emotional and psychological distress,” he stated.
He warned that the crime tarnishes Ghana’s reputation, as fraudsters exploit digital platforms to scam unsuspecting individuals, often across international borders.
Mr. Siamah further explained that these fraudulent schemes have evolved with increased internet accessibility and mobile financial services, making detection and prosecution more challenging.
He expressed confidence that the EOCO-NCA collaboration would intensify efforts through enhanced investigations, cross-border cooperation, public education, and regulatory reforms to clamp down on romance fraud networks.
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