- Ghanaian security forces arrested two men for allegedly taking over WhatsApp accounts
- The fraudsters manipulated the verification process to steal six-digit codes
- The suspects impersonated the victims and contacted their friends and family, requesting for money
Ghanaian security forces have made a significant breakthrough in combating cybercrime with the arrest of Abdul Latif Abubakar, aged 22, and Mahammudu Araafat Yasir, aged 24, in connection with a WhatsApp fraud operation.
The arrests, conducted in Langbensi and Gambaga in the North East Region, come after an extensive intelligence-driven operation initiated by Ghanaian authorities.
The crackdown follows a report from a Ghanaian residing in the US who fell victim to a sophisticated WhatsApp Account Takeover scam.
Perpetrators exploited vulnerabilities in the verification process to gain unauthorized access to WhatsApp accounts, subsequently contacting the victim’s contacts to extort funds.
Financial losses exceeded GH₵200,000, with investigations tracing the illicitly obtained funds to mobile money accounts linked to the suspects.
Currently in custody, both individuals are cooperating with law enforcement, providing crucial insights for ongoing inquiries.
This incident underscores the prevalence of cyber-related crimes in Ghana and stresses the necessity of robust cybersecurity measures and public awareness to mitigate such threats.
