Showing posts with label ghana investigation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ghana investigation. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Ghana Investigation and Scams

Accra Private Detectives Confront Online Fraud













During the past few years, online fraud and scams originating from Ghana have seen a steep increase. Victims are primarily English speaking people from the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, although no country is immune. Many Ghanaians are frustrated with the nation's increasingly bad reputation. Many citizens and analysts suggest that the scammers are actually Nigerians who cross the border to conduct fraud via the Internet, since Nigeria based scams are no longer as effective.

Several investigation companies with operations in Accra have taken an impressive stand at exposing the online or internet based scams. This type of fraud usually involves some form of romance and/or cash transfers or gems. The scams are always indentified by the advance fee which usually comes in the form of an emergency or business complication. Whether the efforts can shut the scammers down, however, remains to be seen.

Complicating matters is the fact that local government and police in Ghana is largely corrupt with little incentive to stop the crime. In some cases, police in Ghana may receive payment from criminal groups to halt any investigation or inquiry. Time will tell if Ghana can avoid the international reputation that followed Nigeria's infamous scams. The clock is ticking and the country's reputation is at stake, not to mention the potential victims.

Bottom line, any individual or company with personal or commercial relations in Ghana is strongly advised to contract a professional investigator for a ghana background check service. Due to the high level of risk, it's a wise insurance policy.

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2006-2009 A. Hathaway
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Thursday, May 8, 2008
Ghana Scams on the Rise

Fraud increases demand for background checks

Ghana appears to have adopted many of the fraud methods used in Nigeria. In fact, many professional scammers have relocated to Ghana in order to escape the "bad reputation" of Nigeria for its high level of fraud. Other fraud operations simply have affiliate, criminal networks in Ghana that they hope will diminish their Nigeria stigma. This transition of advance fee fraud and scams means Ghana is the emerging market for fraud.

Accra is capital of Ghana and the home of an estimated 6 million people, and the population is growing very rapidly. The city continues to attract foreign investment and is the center for Ghana's international commerce and foreign trade.

International business is becoming a way of life here. Doing business in Accra, Ghana can mean opportunity and profit. With this big potential reward, however, comes new substantial risks.

Foreign businesses aren't alone in this increasingly risky market. Similar to a small business in London or Singapore having to verify its business relationship in Accra, many individuals are finding personal relationships in Ghana. Whether its romance or a new business contact, we recommend a background check.

Most of us think the scams, such as advance fee fraud, simply aren't going to happen to us. Unfortunately, as the world has grown wise to Africa's scams, the fraudsters have grown quite sophisticated. Ghana and Nigeria scam checks are important to business owners, since business scammers now have the industry know how, and they use the lingo. Beautiful women (including white women) in Accra definitely exist, but the number of men portraying to be these women is staggering. Here too, the players are professional. They carry on phone conversatons, send email, provide visa and passport copies, and more. Ghana scammers are some of the best.

How can one entering into a business or personal relationship in Ghana learn the truth? We strongly recommend a professional Ghana background check, preferably a firm not based in Africa but with local investigators who understand the local customs, etc. Wymoo International is currently the industry leader for West Africa background checks. According to Vice President, David Wilkerson, businesses and individuals should always "enter into relationships with insurance given the amount of fraud here, and a professional background check is prudent policy."

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2006-2008 A. Hathaway
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