EOCO Launches Campaign to Combat Romance Scams

Accra, Ghana - 07 March, 2025 - Ghana's Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has issued a warning about the growing threat of romance scams in the country, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to deceive victims.

According to EOCO, at least 107 cases of romance scams have been under investigation since 2021, with millions of Ghanaian cedis recovered in 2024 alone. EOCO has launched a campaign to encourage whistleblowers to come forward and report suspicious activities.

The campaign, in partnership with the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA UK), aims to combat the scourge of romance scams, which have become a major concern for authorities.

EOCO has emphasized the need for international cooperation to track down perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“We were dealing with about 107 active cases. We had referrals from international organizations and other sister agencies, including the FBI. Locally, we are working with the Financial Intelligence Center, the NTA, and others through what we call the mutual legal assistance regime,” EOCO stated.

Edward Cudjoe, Director of Administration, reaffirmed EOCO's dedication to combating financial fraud proactively on behalf of the Executive Director.

“There is the need for a more collaborative approach to tackling these issues, particularly in intelligence sharing,” he noted.

Experts warn that romance scams can have devastating consequences for victims, including financial loss and emotional trauma. Authorities are urging the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to help combat the growing threat.

“We encourage everyone to join this effort and report suspicious activities to the office. Both EOCO and NCA are committed to working together to minimize this menace by joining forces to protect the public from the devastating effects of romance fraud,” the NCA UK stated.

Source: Lead News Online