Inspector General of Police Dr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno revealed he was personally targeted by mobile money scammers operating from Nsawam Prison.
The police chief described receiving a fraudulent call where an inmate, using a “pleasant tone,” instructed him to dial a code that would compromise his mobile wallet. Yohuno confronted the caller, who responded with insults before disconnecting.
Digital tracing confirmed the call originated within Nsawam Prison, mirroring another case where a prominent Ghanaian received death threats demanding ₵100,000.
According to Yohuno, inmates employ sophisticated deception tactics including simulated police sirens to pressure victims into transferring funds for fabricated emergencies like relative arrests. “They play sirens and claim your family member needs bail money,” the IGP stated during a security briefing.
Authorities note some perpetrators continue scams while serving 15-18 year sentences. Yohuno urged citizens to immediately report suspicious calls to police for location tracing, emphasizing that legitimate officials never demand payments via unstructured codes.
The disclosure highlights systemic challenges in curbing prison-based financial crimes despite ongoing enforcement efforts.
