Ghanaians lost an estimated US$1.3 million to mobile money fraud during the first quarter of 2025, highlighting the escalating threat of cyber-enabled financial crime in the country, according to the INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026.
The report identifies Ghana as one of several African countries experiencing a surge in mobile money fraud, with cybercriminals increasingly exploiting digital payment platforms to defraud unsuspecting users.
INTERPOL describes mobile money fraud as the most widespread cyber-enabled scam on the continent, revealing that 97% of member countries surveyed identified it as a major cybercrime threat. Criminals commonly employ phishing attacks, SIM-swap fraud, fake promotional offers and social engineering tactics to gain access to victims’ mobile wallets and steal their funds.
«“Mobile money fraud has emerged as the most prevalent online scam reported by member countries,” the report stated, warning that the rapid expansion of digital financial services has created new opportunities for cybercriminals.»
The assessment also highlights the growing sophistication of cybercriminals across Africa. In Kenya, authorities uncovered more than 123,000 fraudulent SIM cards in 2025 linked to SIM-swap schemes. According to the report, criminals exploit weaknesses in mobile payment systems to intercept one-time passwords (OTPs), hijack customer accounts and carry out unauthorised transactions.
INTERPOL further warned that advances in artificial intelligence are making online scams increasingly difficult to detect. Fraudsters are now using AI-generated messages, voice cloning technology and other advanced social engineering techniques to trick victims into disclosing sensitive financial information or approving fraudulent transactions.
To address the growing threat, the report calls for stronger collaboration among law enforcement agencies, financial institutions and telecommunications companies. It also urges governments to intensify public awareness campaigns and strengthen cybersecurity measures to better protect users of digital financial services from evolving cyber threats.
