Ghana Arrests Abdul Latif Abubakar & Mahammudu Yasir for Cyber Fraud
In a significant move to tackle cybercrime, Ghanaian security agencies arrested two men, Abdul Latif Abubakar, 22, and Mahammudu Araafat Yasir, 24, for their involvement in a cyber fraud operation. The arrests occurred in Langbensi and Gambaga in the North East Region following an intelligence-driven investigation.
The operation was initiated after a Ghanaian residing in the US reported falling victim to a sophisticated WhatsApp account takeover scam. The criminals behind this scheme manipulated the verification process of the victim’s WhatsApp account, gaining unauthorized access by obtaining the six-digit verification codes.
Once in control of the accounts, the suspects contacted the victim’s friends and family, posing as the victim and requesting funds under various false pretenses. This resulted in financial losses exceeding GH₵200,000.
The investigation revealed that the stolen funds were routed through mobile money accounts connected to the suspects. Both Abubakar and Yasir are currently in custody, providing crucial information to assist in further investigations.
The rise in cybercrime highlights the growing trend of online fraud in Ghana. The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has been actively raising awareness about such scams, urging the public to remain vigilant and adopt robust cybersecurity practices to protect themselves against similar frauds.
