What Is Impersonation Fraud?
Impersonation fraud occurs when a criminal pretends to be a trusted authority — a bank, government agency, police officer, or telecom company — in order to manipulate a victim into handing over money, personal information, or account access.
The impersonation creates fear or false authority. Victims comply because they believe they are dealing with an official who has power over them.
Common Impersonation Scenarios in Ghana
Bank Fraud Alerts: You receive a call from someone claiming to be your bank's fraud team, saying there is suspicious activity on your account. They ask you to 'verify' your details — account number, OTP, or card PIN — to 'stop' the fraud. The caller IS the fraud.
GRA Tax Demands: A caller claims to be from the Ghana Revenue Authority and demands immediate payment for unpaid taxes or threatens arrest. The GRA does not cold-call people demanding immediate payment over the phone.
Police Threats: Someone calls claiming to be a police officer and says you or a family member is in serious trouble, but the matter can be 'resolved' with a payment.
Telecom Verification Calls: A 'network engineer' calls saying your SIM will be deactivated unless you read out your OTP or call forwarding code.
NHIA/SSNIT Impersonation: Callers claim your health or pension account has an issue requiring an urgent payment or identity verification.
What Legitimate Institutions Will Never Do
No bank will ever ask for your full card number, PIN, or OTP over the phone or via SMS.
No government agency will demand immediate cash payment over the phone to avoid arrest.
No telecom provider needs your PIN or OTP to fix a network issue.
No police officer can legally demand money over the phone to drop charges.
How to Respond
If you receive one of these calls, hang up. Do not engage and do not provide any information.
Call the institution directly using the official number on their website or on the back of your bank card.
Report the number to the institution's fraud team and to Transparent Turtle's Scam List.
If you shared information, contact your bank or mobile money provider immediately to secure your accounts.