The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), has disclosed the arrest of a total of four hundred and twenty-two (422) Ghanaians and three (3) foreign nationals in connection with unlicensed digital loan application platforms.
In a statement, it said: “Six hundred and fifty-four (654) mobile phones, twenty-two (22) laptop computers and about eight hundred (800) sim cards were retrieved as part of the exercise”.
“Investigations have so far led to the identification of one hundred and fifty (150) unlicensed digital loan application platforms whose owners/administrators resort to the use of death threats and the non-consensual distribution of private messages, images and videos mainly accessed through authorized permissions granted by unsuspecting victims who patronize these digital platforms”.
EOCO said: “A joint technical taskforce comprising EOCO, the Bank of Ghana (BOG) and the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) was constituted to clamp down the activities of unlicensed digital loan application platforms. Investigations have so far led to the identification of one hundred and fifty (150) unlicensed digital loan application platforms whose owners/administrators resort to the use of death threats and the non-consensual distribution of private messages, images and videos mainly accessed through authorized permissions granted by unsuspecting victims who patronize these digital platforms”.
On June 14, Ghana’s central bank warned citizens over illegal mobile applications providing loans facilities in the country, where some 97 unlicensed entities were listed.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office has cautioned the general public to desist from having any form of engagements with unlicensed financial entities that ply their trade online.
Read statement below: