Police arrest seven over fake electronic traffic notices scam

The Ghana Police Service has arrested seven suspects for allegedly circulating fraudulent electronic traffic violation notices to unsuspecting members of the public. 

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director-General of Public Affairs, in a brief, said the Police acted swiftly after the fake notifications began circulating. 

She explained that a public alert was issued to inform citizens that the messages were false, fraudulent and not originating from the Police, while intelligence and cyber teams were deployed to track down those responsible. 

According to DCOP Ansah-Akrofi, the operation by the Police Intelligence Directorate led to the arrest of Martha Quarshie, Peter Ofori-MacCarthy, Alfred Kofi Totimeh, Prosper Otumfour, Robert Agblehe, Christian Agblehe and Michael Edem Amomornu from various locations in Ada, Winneba and Accra. 

Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects created an online application and sent fake electronic traffic violation notices with payment links. Funds paid by victims were channelled through multiple mobile money accounts and later consolidated through a mobile money vendor in Ada. 

Investigators identified Otumfour, based in Winneba, as the alleged central figure in the operation. A search in his room uncovered cash, multiple SIM cards, mobile phones and laptops believed to be linked to the fraud. 

Further arrests in Accra led to the retrieval of laptops, hard drives, several mobile phones, numerous Telecel SIM cards, bank cards, identification documents and a total of GH¢10,978 in cash. 

Police also found that several Telecel Cash SIM cards had allegedly been registered in the names of family members and associates but were retained by the suspects to receive payments, in a layered structure designed to obscure the flow of funds. 

All seven suspects are in Police custody and will be put before the court, while investigations continue to identify other members of the syndicate. 

DCOP Ansah-Akrofi commended officers of the Police Intelligence Directorate and the Criminal Investigations Department for dismantling the network. 

She added that the Police, in collaboration with the Ministries of the Interior, Transport and Finance, the National Road Safety Authority, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and the National Insurance Commission, were engaging Parliament to amend road regulations to support the rollout of a technology-based traffic enforcement system, Traffic Tech GH. 

The Police have urged the public to report any suspicious electronic traffic violation notices for prompt action. 

Source: GNA