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 In Ghana’s fast-growing digital economy, a simple phone number can be the key that opens the door to fraud. From online scams to unsolicited calls, personal contact details often serve as an easy entry point for criminals exploiting gaps in digital safety.

Nurein Abass works at GHOne TV and Starr FM

For Nurein Abass, a Broadcast Journalist and English Language teacher, who became a victim of fraud, the danger was not abstract. 

He recalls how he was duped off money while transferring money from his bank account to his mobile money account when he received a scam call.

David Gyedu, CEO of Cyber 1 Defense, explained that phone numbers are now a prime target for cybercriminals.

“Your mobile number is enough for a hacker to do a lot of things to you because don't forget that your mobile number is linked to everything. With your mobile number NIA keeps a lot of things from you. Your mobile number is linked to your Ghana card. Your Ghana card has a lot of information like your house address and your bank and all those things are linked to it.” he said. 

Gyedu explains the risk of phone numbers ending up in wrong hands

From the perspective of media and online platforms, the problem also has a social dimension. Sena Quashie, General Manager of MG Digital, noted that private information such as phone numbers are frequently displayed when netizens want to socialize, leaving them exposed.

“A lot of people do these things because they want to connect with people, they want people to see what they are up to, people want to show off their location. When people are flying, sometimes they even take pictures of their tickets and put out there. So, people do all of these things for different reasons. And then of course there's also when people are engaging in giveaways.” he said.

Sena Quashie is the General Manager, MG Digital

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications report indicates that, in the first quarter of 2025 alone, cyber fraud cost citizens 4.4 million Ghanaian cedis, double the amount recorded the previous year.

The Bank of Ghana's 2023 financial stability review indicated that, financial sector recorded 13,451 fraud cases in 2023, with mobile money scams making up 20% (2,700 cases). Fraud-related financial losses rose from GH$33 million in 2021 to GH$56 million in 2022, with mobile money fraud alone exceeding GHC 10 million loses.

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David Gyedu stressed that while fraudsters may gain access to phone numbers, this alone does not guarantee access to mobile money wallets.

“I can promise you that without your own pin code, nobody can take your money from your account.” He emphasized.

As Ghana pushes toward greater digital inclusion, the call for stronger safeguards is clear. Protecting personal data, starting with something as simple as a phone number, is no longer optional, it is essential for staying safe in an interconnected world.