In Ghana’s capital city, more and more teenagers are turning to online scams. Faced with high unemployment and a weak economy, many young people see cybercrime as their only way out.
Teens Use Internet Cafes for Scams
In the busy streets of Nima, a poor area in Accra, a 17-year-old boy called “Ghost” sits in a small internet café. His eyes are on a computer screen. He is running a fake online shop on Instagram. People think they are buying phones or laptops, but the items don’t exist.
“I made GHC12,000 ($770) last month,” he said. Ghost, not his real name, is one of many teens using technology for crime. Some work from internet cafés. Others operate from home or small kiosks.
Cybercrime on the Rise in Ghana
Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority (CSA) says online fraud is growing fast. In the first three months of 2025, scammers stole about $282,776. That’s nearly double the $154,241 lost during the same period in 2024.
Experts say teens are copying each other. Many use social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok to trick people. They pretend to sell goods online. Once they get paid, they block the buyer.
Scams Are Everywhere
One victim, 20-year-old Mercy Adumoah, shared her story. She bought a pair of shoes through Snapchat. The seller vanished after receiving the money.
“I paid without thinking. Then I was blocked,” she said.
Scams like this are common. They include phishing messages, fake investment platforms, and mobile money tricks.
High Prices, No Jobs
Ghana’s economy has faced many problems. In 2023, the country defaulted on its debt. Inflation was over 54% in 2022 and stayed above 20% into 2025. Many families are poor, and jobs are hard to find.
In Nima, some teenagers have luxury phones and designer clothes. Their teachers notice but feel helpless. Mohammed Inusah, a junior high school teacher, said, “Some students have iPhones worth more than my salary.”
Parents often don’t know what their children are doing. And if they do, they may be too scared to say anything.
Scamming Becomes a Lifestyle
One teen, who calls himself “Tricky,” said he learned to scam by reading guides online. He later moved on to mobile money fraud. He would pretend to be a phone company worker and trick people into giving up account details.
His biggest scam earned him $500. That’s more than what many nurses and teachers make in a month in Ghana.
“I helped my mum with rent,” he said. “I know it’s wrong. But what other choice do I have?”
From Victim to Scammer
Another teen, “Bronzy,” said he became a scammer after being scammed himself. Someone tricked him through a fake forex trading site. Now he runs his own scam group on Telegram.
He promises investors a 20% weekly return. But after they pay, he disappears. “People invest and I vanish,” he said.
Weak Enforcement Makes It Easy
Cybercrime is hard to stop in Ghana. Abubakar Issaka, head of the Cyber Security Experts Association of Ghana, says the laws are there. But enforcement is weak.
He also says Ghana lacks enough trained cyber experts. “The number of fraud cases is rising faster than we can handle,” he explained.
Tracking down fraudsters is also tough. Many use phone numbers tied to dead people. Others hide behind fake accounts. “The fraudsters stay one step ahead,” Issaka said.
Emotional Cost for Everyone
Scammers may get money, but they live in fear. Ghost says he is always worried.
“Sometimes I can’t sleep. I fear the police will come. But when I see my friends getting rich, I keep going.”
As night falls in Nima, Ghost ends his work for the day. He made no money this time. But with Ghana’s economy still weak, many teens may follow the same path.
A Growing Concern for Ghana
The rise in teen cybercrime shows deeper issues in Ghana. The lack of jobs, rising prices, and poor enforcement have created a crisis. For many young people, online scams seem like the only chance for a better life.
But the long-term costs are high — both for the victims and the scammers. The government, schools, and families must act fast to stop the trend before it grows worse.
