Cybersecurity Expert Warns Ghanaians Against Rising Online Scams
By Esther Korantemaa Offei
Cybersecurity expert Dunstan Guba has urged Ghanaians to exercise greater caution online, warning that the rise in digital frauds and artificial intelligence-generated content makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is fake.
Speaking in an interview on Roots and Routes on ZED FM, Mr. Guba said public awareness about cybersecurity is improving, but many people still fall victim to avoidable online fraud.
“I think the conversation about cybersecurity is improving. People are now getting the idea that they need to be safe online. But the fact is, you cannot believe whatever you see on the internet,” he said.
He stressed the importance of verifying and authenticating information before interacting with it. “It’s a virtual world. You don’t see the people behind these accounts. So you don’t just see a random link and interact with it,” he cautioned.
Mr. Guba noted that many Ghanaians are often tempted by convenience, especially when using public Wi-Fi or chasing online deals that appear too good to be true. He cited an example of fake promotional advertisements offering expensive smartphones at heavily discounted prices.
“Let’s say your budget for an iPhone is GH¢10,000, then you see a pop-up saying there’s a giveaway and you can get it for GH¢5,000. I can tell you that about 50 percent of people who see such an advert would react to it simply because it’s cheap. They don’t want to verify the authenticity,” he stated.
According to him, individuals must “go the extra mile” to confirm the legitimacy of online vendors. “If you’re buying from a shop that claims to have a physical location, visit the shop and confirm they are who they say they are,” he advised.
He also warned about online romance scams and explicit content extortion. “If someone you just met online asks for intimate pictures or requests a nude video call, be sure that 90 percent of such incidents are fake,” he stated.
With the emergence of artificial intelligence, Mr. Guba added that even videos can no longer be taken at face value. “Any video you see online must not automatically be considered real,” he said.
