Four remanded for operating fake food delivery platforms

An Accra Circuit Court has ordered four young men into police custody for allegedly operating fake online food delivery services that defrauded unsuspecting customers through mobile money advance payments.

The accused — Elliot Sotama Atsu (20), Elijah Sotama Etse (20), Jethro Atsu (20), and Obed Selasi Agboli — are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and defrauding by false pretences.

Their pleas were not taken, as investigations are still ongoing. They are scheduled to reappear before the court on November 3, 2025.

According to the facts presented in court, on October 10, 2025, officers from the Cybercrime Unit of the Ghana Police Service arrested the suspects following intelligence reports of online fraud activities operating within Sogakope and its surrounding areas.

The suspects were picked up at PK’s Luxury Apartment located at Haatso, Accra, where police retrieved twelve mobile phones believed to have been used in the fraudulent operations. The devices are currently undergoing digital forensic analysis to aid ongoing investigations.

Investigators revealed that the suspects created fake websites and social media accounts purporting to represent several well-known food vendors, including Papaye, Pizzaman Chickenman, KFC, and Mawarko.

These counterfeit platforms closely mirrored the legitimate brands’ logos and online presence, making them appear authentic to potential customers.

Unsuspecting users who discovered the pages online were instructed to place food orders and make upfront mobile money payments to accounts controlled by the scammers. Once the payments were made, however, the victims never received their orders, resulting in multiple complaints of fraud.

The court heard that the police are working to trace additional victims and establish the full extent of the scam network. The suspects remain in custody pending further investigation and forensic verification of the evidence.

The case highlights the growing trend of cyber-enabled fraud in Ghana’s digital marketplace and reinforces the Ghana Police Service’s ongoing crackdown on online scams targeting consumers and small businesses.