Government has warned the public to be cautious of transacting business with state institutions on social media.

A statement by Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the security agencies have received numerous reports of people who have been duped by fake social media accounts operating in the name of government agencies.

The Government of Ghana wishes to caution against the use of fake social media accounts to dupe members of the general public.

“These unverified accounts are mostly created in the names of Public Institutions, Ministers, Members of Parliament and other public figures. The accounts are used as platforms to promise jobs, scholarships, contracts and senior high school/ national service placements.

“In exchange, victims are lured into making advance cash payments to secure the offers,” the statement said.

It added: “Since August 2019, Ghana’s Security Agencies have recorded a significant upsurge in the use of fake accounts, particularly on Facebook, to swindle unsuspecting citizens to part with various sums of money and other valuable items.

“Though the Security Agencies and Social Media Service Providers are making the necessary efforts to clamp down on these activities, government hereby calls on the general public to heighten its sense of awareness on social media, particularly when dealing with accounts purporting to be those of government officials.

“The public is advised not to transact any pecuniary business with accounts of government functionaries via social media and encouraged to report such incidents to the Police immediately. Government and all other stakeholders shall continue with collaborations to deepen cybersecurity”.