A new scam targeting Ghana’s mobile money users could drain your account in seconds. Here’s what’s happening and how to spot it before you lose money at your next cash withdrawal.
The MoMo scam: how it works
The fraud uses a coordinated two-person trick that exploits the normal cash withdrawal process. Here’s the play-by-play:
- You visit a mobile money agent to withdraw cash and say your phone number aloud (as agents typically ask).
- The agent you’re talking to is secretly on a call with a second fraudster located somewhere else.
- As soon as you speak your phone number, the distant fraudster immediately initiates a withdrawal transaction on your number from a different MoMo terminal.
- You receive a transaction approval prompt on your phone, thinking it’s from the agent in front of you.
- You enter your PIN to approve what you believe is your withdrawal.
- But the money goes to the second fraudster’s location—not the agent you visited. When you ask for your cash, the first agent claims no transaction completed on their end.
Since the money was withdrawn through a different agent ID, victims often struggle to figure out what happened until it’s too late.
How to protect yourself
Verify the agent’s details before approving any transaction. Ask for the agent’s name and check it matches the name on your phone’s transaction prompt before you enter your PIN.
Don’t approve anything that feels off. If the timing seems wrong or the details don’t match, reject the transaction. Your money is safer in your account than in an agent’s hands.
Never say your phone number aloud at a MoMo point. If possible, write it down or hand over your phone instead. This removes the easy handoff that scammers rely on.
Check your transaction history regularly. If you spot withdrawals you didn’t make, contact your network provider (MTN Ghana, Telecel, or AT) immediately.
What the banks and networks say
MTN Ghana, Telecel, and AT have repeatedly warned customers to verify transaction details before approving any prompt. The Bank of Ghana has flagged rising digital fraud, especially schemes involving social engineering and unauthorized withdrawals.
According to Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority, mobile money fraud remains one of the most reported forms of digital financial crime in the country. The bad news: criminals increasingly rely on tricking you into approving transactions yourself, rather than hacking your account.
What you should do now
Next time you withdraw cash, take an extra 10 seconds to verify the agent’s name on your transaction prompt matches the person in front of you. If your network provider offers transaction alerts, turn them on so you see every withdrawal in real time. And if you spot suspicious activity, report it to your network and the Bank of Ghana immediately—don’t wait.
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