The Ghana Police Service, through the Cybercrime Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), has arrested ten suspects for allegedly creating fake online food delivery platforms to defraud unsuspecting customers across the country.
According to police sources, the suspects designed counterfeit websites and social media pages impersonating popular food brands such as Papaye, Pizzaman, KFC, and Mawarko, enticing victims to place food orders and make advance payments through mobile money. However, the victims never received the food they ordered after payments were made.
The first six suspects — Wonder Sakpiti, Sedinam Amaglo, Godsway Dunyo, Angela Agblemekpe, Mathew Aheto, and Fafali Amoah — were arrested during a targeted police operation on October 1, 2025, at Sogakope. The operation followed weeks of sustained intelligence gathering that linked them to the online fraud syndicate.
Preliminary investigations further revealed that the suspects, in some cases, gained unauthorized access to victims’ mobile money wallets and bank accounts under the pretense of assisting them with payment challenges, after which they withdrew funds without consent. Several digital devices believed to have been used in the fraudulent activities were recovered and are currently undergoing forensic examination.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the main suspect, identified as Elijah Sotama Etse, alias Pop Smoke — believed to be the syndicate leader — together with Elliot Sotama Atsu, Jethro Atsu, and Obed Selasi Agboli from their hideout at Haatso in Accra on October 12, 2025. Police retrieved twelve mobile phones from the suspects, which are also being preserved for forensic analysis.
All ten suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before court today, Monday, October 13, 2025.
The Ghana Police Service has urged members of the public who may have fallen victim to this online fraud scheme to report to the nearest police station to assist with ongoing investigations.
