The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has warned mobile money users to be cautious and take personal responsibility for protecting their digital financial transactions. This warning comes as fraudsters increasingly use sophisticated methods to target unsuspecting customers. The Chamber noted that technological protections alone are not enough to prevent these crimes.
The Chamber recently held a public education event at the Mankessim lorry station in the Central Region to raise awareness about fraud risks. The event, dubbed "Mankessim Market Storm," brought together all operating telecos in Ghana to explain mobile-money products and services. The goal was to educate traders and drivers on safe transaction practices and highlight the Chamber's commitment to excellent services.
Ms Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, emphasized that individuals must adopt safe behaviors to protect themselves from fraud. She advised users to verify requests for money or personal data and report suspicious activity promptly to their service providers and the police. Owusu-Ankomah stressed that the battle against MoMo fraud requires a partnership between service providers, law enforcement, and the public.
The telecos demonstrated safe transaction practices and encouraged traders and drivers to report suspicious activity to their service providers immediately. They cautioned the public against sharing their MoMo PIN through any channel, including text, WhatsApp, or over the phone. Owusu-Ankomah compared the importance of protecting MoMo PINs to protecting bank PINs, warning that fraudsters can only succeed if users make their job easy.
Officials from various agencies, including the National Communications Authority and the Environmental Protection Authority, also participated in the event. They addressed concerns about telecommunication masts, debunking the rumor that they cause cancer. Instead, they emphasized the importance of these masts in providing reliable mobile and internet connectivity to support emergency services, education, and businesses.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Hayford Alavi, Mankessim Divisional Crime Officer, advised the public not to respond to unsolicited messages or calls asking for money or personal information. He urged them to report such incidents to the Cyber Crime Unit for urgent redress. The public education event was well-received, with clients like Madam Salamatu, Mr Maximus Otoo Hackman, and Kofi Mensah finding it helpful in learning how to protect their PINs and avoid suspicious calls.
The clients appreciated the telecos' efforts in educating the public and improving security systems to reduce fraud. They learned that staying alert, not sharing personal details, and following the telecos' safety rules are the best ways to avoid losing money to scammers. Overall, the event aimed to empower users with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves from mobile money fraud.
Key points
- The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications urges customers to guard their MoMo PINs and be vigilant against rising fraud cases.
- The Chamber emphasizes the importance of adopting safe behaviors, verifying requests for money or personal data, and reporting suspicious activity.
- The telecos demonstrated safe transaction practices and encouraged users to report suspicious activity to their service providers immediately.
