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Cyber criminals target newly launched eTranzact

Page last updated at Sunday, April 19, 2009 17:17 PM // 2 Comments

e-tranzactCyber criminals have started targeting the newly introduced eTranzact, ghanabusinessnews.com can reveal.

The electronic payment system which was only launched on Friday March 27, 2009 by market leaders eTrazanct to boost online commerce and money transfer through the mobile phone in Ghana is being targeted by scammers.

The scammers are already sending emails with eTranzact email account, services@etranzact.com.gh to presumed customers and users of the online payment system warning them of ‘suspicious activity’ on their bank accounts.

But an official of eTranzact contacted by ghanabusinessnews.com on phone has condemned the act describing it as fraudulent. He said eTranzact has no such email account.

Mr. Kofi Owusu Jnr, an official of eTranzact, who sounded surprised at the swift attempt of the scammers, told ghanabusinessnews.com that “e-Tranzact has not sent any such emails to its customers” and asked that any customer who receives such email should ignore it. Adding that eTranzact would issue an official statement on the matter soon.

One such email which was sent to us, even though we are not customers of the service was titled  ‘Verify Your Membership’.

Below is the content of the email which was sent complete with the eTranzact logo.

Dear Value Users,

Suspicious activity has been detected on your bank account. To protect your account and our users, your have to verify your membership with eTranzact WebAccess.


Click this link below to verify your membership details.

Verify Membership

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thanks

Mr. Owusu Jnr says this is fake and should be treated as such.

The activities of scammers have seen a rise in recent times in Ghana.

According to the Communications Ministry, about 82 cyber crimes occur in Ghana every month, and that is nearly one thousand crimes yearly.

Not long ago, there were reports that some United States and Canadian merchants have blocked over 70 percent of international online orders from Ghana and Nigeria due to fraud.

While moving the motion for the budget allocation for the Ministry of Communications, the Minister, Mr. Haruna Idrissu said the issue of cyber crime and internet fraud, popularly known as “sakawa” would be given serious attention.

He said, the involvement of the people, especially the youth, in this social menace needed to be dealt with to ensure that Ghana would not become a gateway for cyber crime.

One sure way however to steer clear of scammers, is never to respond to their mails and contact immediately the service providers. Never call any phone number you suspect to have been supplied by the scammers, and if you are in doubt contact your local police.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi



Comments

2 Comments

  1. Albert Carl says:
    April 19, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    That is why Education is a key component of our society and must not egnored because without that you’re a lost as well as lack Christ in your life.
    I have received a lot of emails regarding all kinds of foolishness but I always screen my emails. You got be smarter if you want to be part of the information highway.

  2. Oluniyi David Ajao says:
    May 19, 2009 at 10:21 am

    This type of crime is not new. The scammers are only trying their luck because Etranzact is new in Ghana.

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