The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has apprehended individuals allegedly involved in a complex mobile money and sim swap fraud scheme. Five accused persons, namely Richmond Donkor alias Chino, Cecilia Asabre, Salifu Eshum, Daniel Asomani Baawiah, and Shadrack Anthony alias Target, have been jointly charged with conspiracy to steal GH¢113,947.57. They face multiple charges including abetment of stealing, altering forged documents, possession of forged documents, abetment of money laundering, and money laundering.
Appearing before an Accra Circuit Court, EOCO officials filed an amended charge and facts sheet. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. Presiding over the case, Mr Isaac Addo admitted each accused to bail in the sum of GH¢600,000 with two sureties, stipulating that the sureties must be public or civil servants earning GH¢3,000 monthly. Additionally, the accused were ordered to deposit their passports at the Court’s registry.
The defence counsel for Shadrack Anthony, the fifth accused, requested bail, citing his client’s fixed place of abode, marital status, employment, and willingness to cooperate with investigations. The prosecution did not oppose bail but urged the court to maintain the same terms as the fifth accused’s police enquiry bail.
The case originated from complaints received by EOCO from a reputable bank alleging the theft of GH¢113,947.57 from six customers’ bank accounts through a sophisticated mobile money and sim swap fraud scheme. The accused were arrested in Kasea on March 2, 2024, with the collaboration of the Ghana Police Service.
Investigations revealed a modus operandi involving the swapping of mobile phone numbers attributed to specific bank accounts without the account holder’s knowledge. This allowed the accused to gain control of the accounts and transfer funds to a different bank and mobile money accounts.
One of the accused, Anthony, allegedly gained unauthorized access to user login credentials and deactivated/reactivated sim numbers to facilitate the theft. Other accused persons altered identity cards and conducted fraudulent transfers.
The prosecution highlighted instances where funds were transferred between accounts and withdrawn immediately, as well as attempted theft through social engineering schemes.
The court proceedings shed light on the sophisticated nature of the fraud and the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat such criminal activities.
