Four individuals arrested by EOCO for involvement in complex Mobile Money and sim swap fraud

The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has apprehended four individuals for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated mobile money and sim swap fraud scheme, resulting in the loss of over GHC 113,947.57 belonging to a major Ghanaian bank. The accused individuals include Richmond Donkor, Celicia Asabere, Salifu Eshum, and Daniel Asomani Baawiah, who have been charged with conspiracy to steal, while Donkor faces additional charges of stealing and altering forged documents. Asabere and Eshum are jointly charged with abetment of stealing, with Eshum also facing a charge for altering a forged document. The accused persons initially pleaded guilty with an explanation, but the court entered a plea of not guilty on their behalf after hearing their explanations.

The prosecution, led by Mr. Abu Issa of EOCO, requested the court to remand the accused so that investigations could be completed, including the arrest of Derrick Obeng, believed to be the mastermind behind the scheme. The prosecution argued that remanding the accused would prevent interference with the ongoing investigation. However, Mr. Divine Effah Carrey, counsel for Donkor, sought bail for his client, asserting that Donkor was employed and had a stable place of residence, making his charges bailable. Following submissions from both the prosecution and defense counsel, the court decided to remand the accused individuals due to the gravity of the offense and to forestall any further interference. The accused are scheduled to reappear in court on March 27, 2024.

The prosecution stated that on February 14, 2024, EOCO received complaints from a bank reporting the theft of GHC 113,947.57 from six customer accounts through a sophisticated mobile money and sim swap fraud scheme. The individuals suspected of orchestrating the fraud were arrested in Kasoa on March 2, 2024, with preliminary investigations uncovering their mode of operation. The accused allegedly collaborated with complicit individuals within Vodafone, AT (Airtel Tigo), and the bank to swap mobile phone numbers linked to specific accounts without the account holders’ knowledge. This enabled them to take control of the victims’ banking channels and transfer funds to various accounts and mobile money accounts.

The prosecution detailed specific instances where the accused utilized altered identity documents to carry out fraudulent activities, such as swapping phone numbers associated with bank accounts and transferring funds without authorization. Donkor and Asabere reportedly altered the same ECOWAS ID Card to facilitate the unauthorized transfer of funds from one account to another. Asabere withdrew the funds immediately after the transfers were made. Eshum, on the other hand, transferred funds to his brother’s Vodafone cash number from accounts taken over through sim swapping. The prosecution further highlighted additional instances where the accused assumed control of various bank accounts, leading to the transfer of funds to mobile numbers under their control. Overall, the preliminary investigations underscored the intricate nature of the fraud scheme, highlighting the need for diligent prosecution and prevention of such crimes in the future.

In one specific case, Asomani Baawiah was implicated in an attempt to steal from an individual’s account through AT (Airtel Tigo) cash transactions, indicative of the extensive reach and complexity of the fraud operation. The prosecution’s findings shed light on the collaborative efforts involved in executing such schemes, emphasizing the need for increased vigilance and oversight to safeguard against fraud in the financial sector. As investigations continue, the accused individuals face severe charges for their roles in the fraudulent activities, underscoring the seriousness of such crimes and the critical importance of holding perpetrators accountable. As the case progresses, it serves as a cautionary tale highlighting the dangers of mobile money and sim swap fraud and the crucial role of law enforcement agencies in combating financial crimes in Ghana.