A 37-year-old man suspected of masterminding a nationwide car rental fraud and vehicle theft scheme has been arrested by the Greater Accra Regional Police Command.
The suspect, identified as Nana Anderson, was picked up by police on April 5 at a hideout in Atasemanso, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. Anderson, who also goes by several aliases — including Anderson Nana Abeka, Essel Kofi Elvis, and Willson Kojo Bismark — is believed to be behind a string of car rental scams that have left both businesses and private vehicle owners counting heavy losses.
According to the police, Anderson used forged identity documents, including ECOWAS IDs and driver’s licenses bearing his photo but different names, to trick car rental companies into handing over vehicles. The scam came to light after he allegedly rented a Hyundai Elantra from a car hire operator in Accra’s Community 25 on March 25 and never returned it. Police say he even went as far as disabling the vehicle’s tracking device.
Further investigations linked Anderson to at least three other car thefts in Accra — involving a Kia Forte, a Honda Civic, and a Kia Ultima — all obtained through similar deception. He reportedly confessed to selling the stolen vehicles for GH¢4,000 each.
During the investigation, Anderson led officers to a house in Millennium City, believed to be the hideout of another suspect, Gideon Baah, also known as “Nana.” Baah was not at the residence and remains on the run.
Anderson has since been charged and arraigned before court as police continue efforts to dismantle the syndicate and arrest the remaining suspects.
The Greater Accra Regional Police Command has meanwhile urged car rental businesses and the public to be extra cautious and verify the identities of customers thoroughly before handing over vehicles.
