Beware of Fraudulent SIM Card Registration

The Mobile Money Advocacy Group Ghana (MOMAG) has issued a warning to mobile phone users to be cautious of fraudulent activities during SIM Card registration. This alert comes after MOMAG noticed that some unscrupulous agents are taking advantage of unsuspecting individuals, particularly women, by registering SIM Cards in their names without their knowledge or consent.

According to MOMAG, these agents will often register two SIM Cards, claiming that the first one was unsuccessful due to network challenges. They then secretly keep the other card and use it for fraudulent activities or sell it at an exorbitant price to people without Ghana Cards. This scam has targeted numerous females, with over 90% of victims being women. Additionally, some Ghanaian women have been coaxed into registering SIM Cards with their Ghana Cards by male foreign nationals, who then use the cards for fraudulent activities.

MOMAG has engaged the National Communications Authority (NCA) on this issue since 2023, but no action has been taken yet. The advocacy group is urging the NCA to take necessary action to protect citizens by curbing this menace. They suggest launching a public awareness campaign through electronic and print media to educate the public to shun the use of their Ghana cards to buy SIM cards for friends. MOMAG is willing to provide samples of phone numbers used by fraudsters to the NCA if needed.

To avoid falling victim to this scam, MOMAG advises the public to collect their damaged SIM cards from agents if they are told the card is damaged or gone bad during the registration process. Additionally, they warn agents who are aiding fraudsters by registering SIMs or selling pre-registered SIM cards to stop such activities immediately. MOMAG will report any bad agents to the police to face the full rigors of the law.