How to Report Cybercrime in Ghana (and Get Your Money Back)

Quick answer: Call the Ghana Police Service on 191 or the toll-free helpline 18555, and report the incident to the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) 24-hour Cybercrime Incident Reporting Point of Contact by calling or texting 292 (WhatsApp 0501603111). Before anything else, call your bank or mobile money provider now on their official line to freeze the account and try to block the transfer. Refund reality: there is no guarantee you will get your money back, but acting within minutes, before the fraudster cashes out, gives you the best chance.

What to do in 3 steps

1. Contact your bank or mobile money provider immediately. Use the official number on the back of your card, your provider's published helpline, or your nearest branch. Ask them to freeze the account, flag the transaction as fraud, and attempt a recall or reversal of the funds. Speed matters most here.
2. Report to the police and the CSA. Call the Ghana Police Service on 191 or 18555, or visit the CID Cyber Crime Unit. Report the same incident to the Cyber Security Authority on 292 (call, SMS, or WhatsApp 0501603111) or email [email protected] so it reaches CERT-GH. Get a reference or report number.
3. Escalate financial complaints. If your bank, savings institution, or payment service provider does not resolve the matter, lodge a complaint with the Bank of Ghana, and report serious or organised fraud to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

How recovery actually works

In Ghana most fraud now flows through mobile money, so recovery is a race against the cash-out. When you report a fraudulent transfer, your provider can place a hold on the receiving wallet and, if the money has not yet been withdrawn, attempt a reversal. This only works while the funds are still sitting in the recipient's account, which is often a matter of minutes or hours, so calling your provider before you do anything else is the single most important step. The police Cyber Crime Unit and EOCO can investigate, trace funds, and pursue the people behind the scam, and the Bank of Ghana can intervene where a regulated financial institution mishandled your complaint. None of these guarantee a refund. Treat any message promising guaranteed recovery for a fee as a second scam targeting victims.

What to have ready

• The exact date, time, and amount of each transaction.
• Mobile money transaction IDs and SMS confirmation messages.
• The phone number, wallet number, or account that received the money.
• Screenshots of the chats, calls, websites, or social media accounts used to deceive you.
• Your own account or wallet number and registered name.
• Any reference number from your bank, provider, the police, or the CSA.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get my money back after a MoMo scam? Sometimes, but only if you act fast. If you report before the fraudster withdraws the cash, your provider may be able to freeze and reverse it. Once it is cashed out, recovery is unlikely, which is why the first call should be to your provider.

Do I have to pay to report cybercrime? No. Reporting to the Ghana Police Service (191 or 18555), the Cyber Security Authority (292), the Bank of Ghana, and EOCO is free. Anyone demanding a fee to recover your funds is almost certainly running a follow-up scam.

Should I report to both the police and the CSA? Yes. The police investigate and prosecute the crime, while the CSA's reporting point of contact routes incidents to CERT-GH for technical handling and tracking. Reporting to both, plus your bank or provider, covers all the recovery and enforcement paths.

Sources

• Cyber Security Authority of Ghana - Incident Reporting (call/SMS 292, WhatsApp 0501603111, [email protected])
• Ghana Police Service - Cyber Crime Unit (helplines 191 and 18555)
• Bank of Ghana - Complaints Procedures
• Bank of Ghana - Investigation and Consumer Reporting Office (ICRO)
• Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)

For step-by-step reporting and recovery guides covering other countries, see our cybercrime help hub.