Close to GH¢500,000 lost to online blackmail, sextortion from January to April 2025 – CSA
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has announced a surge in online blackmail and sextortion cases across Ghana.
Between January and April 2024, the CSA recorded 155 reported cases resulting in financial losses amounting to GH¢103,663m and an alarming increase to GH¢499,044 within the same period in 2025.
This was announced in a statement released by the CSA on Friday, May 2, 2025.
“The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has reported an increase in financial losses linked to online blackmail and sextortion. The CSA recorded 155 reported cases between January and April 2024, with associated losses of GH¢103,663.
“An updated analysis covering January to April 2025 indicates a slight increase in reported cases but a significant rise in financial losses, reaching GH¢499,044. The data points to increasingly sophisticated methods being employed by cybercriminals and highlights the growing economic impact of such incidents”, it noted.
It further revealed that the actors use social media to lure their victims.
“After gaining the victim’s trust, they initiate explicit video calls or solicit private photos. These sessions are secretly recorded or saved without the victim’s consent.
“They then threaten to release the compromising materials unless a ransom is paid, usually via mobile money. In some cases, even after payment is made, the threats continue or escalate”, it stated.
To combat this growing menace, the CSA advised the public to keep their social media accounts private and avoid storing sensitive content on their devices.
“Avoid sharing intimate content with strangers online, even if they seem trustworthy. Keep social media accounts private, and limit who can view your content.
“Avoid capturing or storing nude images or videos of yourself on any device. Immediately cease all communication with the threat actors should you fall victim. Do not pay any ransom, it encourages repeated demands and does not guarantee deletion of the content. Preserve all evidence, take screenshots, record usernames, URLs, messages, and payment demand”, it added.
Read the full statement below:
JKB/MA
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