Cash-on-Delivery (COD) scams are on the rise in Ghana, putting online shoppers at risk as fraudsters adopt new tricks to steal money.
In this type of scam, criminals pretend to be sellers or delivery agents. They contact victims through phone calls, text messages, or social media, claiming a package is ready for delivery. The victim is then asked to make payment, usually via mobile money before receiving the item.
A more deceptive method is also emerging. Scammers now create fake online shop accounts that look like real businesses. When a customer places an order, the scammer secretly contacts the actual shop owner, using the customer’s details and location to place the same order.
The real business delivers the product, unaware of the scam. However, the victim ends up paying the scammer instead of the genuine seller. This makes the fraud harder to detect because the item may actually be delivered, giving the impression that the process is legitimate.
According to the Cyber Security Authority, online fraud and impersonation scams continue to increase, especially with the growth of e-commerce and mobile money usage.
Authorities are urging the public to stay alert and take precautions when shopping online. As online shopping grows, experts say awareness is key to avoiding these scams.
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