Scammers Impersonate MPs on Social Media – Kintampo North MP Warns

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kintampo North, Hon. Joseph Kwame Kumah, has expressed concern about the surge in cyber fraud activities.

The MP laments that about 15 of his constituents have fallen victim to acts of impersonation, among others, despite efforts made by the police to clamp down on such fraudulent activities.

In an interview with Opemsuo Radio’s Parliamentary correspondent Nana Kwaku Boffah, he cautioned Ghanaians, especially the unemployed, to be extra vigilant about whom they deal with when searching for jobs, especially on Facebook.

“I have been worried for years now, but today I have seen that it is our collective responsibility, beginning with us individual MPs and a societal issue that we must all recognize as a huge problem. In Kintampo North alone, not fewer than 10 to 15 people have been defrauded in the name of the Member of Parliament using social media messenger,” he said.

He also expressed concern about how these fraudsters use pictures of members of parliament on the internet, specifically on Facebook, to dupe vulnerable unemployed people in the country.

“Currently, what is happening is that multiple Facebook accounts are being created for members of parliament, and I am sure not even the IGP is spared. They use public figures’ names with pictures, and vulnerable youth are convinced. Even security employment is not exempt, and people end up paying not less than GHC12,000 only to later find out that they are fraudsters.

“These fraudsters have even gone to the extent of saying they can send people abroad. I have evidence that a native of Kintampo was defrauded of GHC35,000 in the name of sending him abroad just yesterday,” he emphasized.

The MP told Opemsuo news that he has reported this issue to the police and national security several times, yet the situation still persists. Therefore, he called for a national dialogue.

Story by Nana Kwaku Boffah.