Nearly GH¢300,000 lost to fake restaurant listings online-CSA warns
By DL News
Published
Updated
2 min read
According to the Authority, victims lost GH¢296,083.68 between January and June this year after fraudsters impersonated restaurants and food vendors on digital platforms.
The Cyber Security Authority has warned that fake restaurant listings online are costing Ghanaians thousands of cedis, with losses reaching nearly GH¢300,000 in the first half of 2026.
According to the Authority, victims lost GH¢296,083.68 between January and June this year after fraudsters impersonated restaurants and food vendors on digital platforms.
The figure is a sharp rise from the GH¢84,592 recorded during the same period in 2025.
Reported cases also increased from 61 to 112 within the same period.
The CSA said the scam usually begins when criminals tamper with the online contact details of legitimate restaurants.
They replace genuine phone numbers on Google Search, Google Maps and other platforms with numbers controlled by scammers.
Some of the fraudsters reportedly use Google’s “Suggest an edit” feature to alter business information.
Others claim unverified business profiles, create duplicate pages or pay for sponsored adverts so their fake contact details appear first in search results.
Unsuspecting customers then call the fake numbers to place food orders.
They are asked to pay through mobile money or suspicious payment links.
Once payment is made, the fraudsters cut communication and no food is delivered.
In some cases, victims are redirected to fake payment pages where they are tricked into entering personal, banking or mobile money details.
The Authority warned that this can expose victims to further financial loss beyond the initial food order.
The CSA has urged the public to verify restaurant contact details before placing orders or making payments.
It advised customers to use official restaurant websites, verified social media pages or trusted food delivery platforms.
Members of the public have also been cautioned not to share mobile money PINs, one-time passwords or banking credentials with anyone.
The Authority further advised consumers to avoid unfamiliar payment links.
Restaurants and food vendors have also been urged to secure their online presence.
The CSA said businesses should verify their Google Business Profiles, monitor online listings for unauthorised changes and clearly display their official contact details.
It said these measures will help reduce impersonation and protect customers from fraudulent online food orders.
