Accra: The Ghana Police Service, through the Cybercrime Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), has arrested 10 suspects for allegedly creating fake online food delivery platforms to defraud unsuspecting customers. A press release copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday named the suspects as Elijah Sotama Etse, alias Pop Smoke (the syndicate leader), Wonder Sakpiti, Sedinam Amaglo, Godsway Dunyo, and Angela Agblemekpe. The rest are Mathew Aheto, Fafali Amoah, Elliot Sotama Atsu, Jethro Atsu, and Obed Selasi Agboli.
According to Ghana News Agency, the suspects were arrested during a targeted operation conducted on October 1, 2025, at Sogakope in the Volta Region. The operation followed sustained intelligence gathering, which led to the arrest of three males and three females suspected to be behind the fraudulent scheme. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had created fake websites and social media pages impersonating well-known food brands such as Papaye, Pizzaman, KFC, and Mawarko.
Victims who placed orders through these fake platforms were directed to make advance payments via mobile money, after which they never received the food they ordered. Further investigations indicated that in some cases, the suspects gained unauthorized access to victims' mobile money wallets and bank accounts under the guise of assisting them with payments and subsequently withdrew the funds. Digital devices believed to have been used in the fraudulent activities were retrieved and are undergoing forensic examination.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the main suspect, Elijah Etse, on October 12, 2025, and three others from their hideout at Haatso in Accra (Elliot Atsu, Jethro Atsu, and Obed Agboli). Twelve mobile phones were retrieved from the suspects and are being preserved for forensic examination. All the 10 suspects are currently in police custody and will be put before court on Monday, October 13.
The Ghana Police Service urged members of the public, who may have fallen victim to the fraudulent scheme, to report to the nearest police station to assist ongoing investigations.
