Ghana Fraud Alert: Fake Accident Scams on the Rise – Verify Before You Send MoMo!

Introduction:

Don’t Let a Fake Emergency Ruin Your Festive Season

As Ghana approaches another festive season, thousands of people will be travelling, visiting family and friends, attending celebrations and making financial transactions. Unfortunately, this is also a period when fraudsters may attempt to exploit people’s generosity, emotions and willingness to help others.

One particularly concerning scam that the public needs to watch out for involves fraudsters pretending that your relative has been involved in a road traffic accident and urgently needs money for medical treatment.

Working as a nurse in the Emergency Room (ER), I encountered this rather disturbing strategy earlier in May this year. What makes this approach particularly worrying is how effectively it exploits the fear and anxiety associated with hearing that a loved one has been involved in an accident.

More recently, two individuals reported to the Emergency Room with complaints relating to this kind of fraudulent scheme.

This is an important reminder that we must remain vigilant, especially during periods of increased travel and social activities.

How the Fake Accident and MoMo Scam Works

The scam typically begins with an unexpected phone call from someone claiming that your relative, friend or family member has been involved in a road traffic accident.

The caller may claim that the victim has been rushed to a hospital and requires urgent medical attention.

To make the story convincing, the fraudster may:

• Pretend to be a hospital staff member, a Good Samaritan or someone who witnessed the accident.
• Provide the name of a hospital where the alleged victim has supposedly been admitted.
• Claim that the patient urgently needs medication, medical supplies or emergency treatment.
• Create panic by insisting that there is no time to waste.
• Provide a Mobile Money number and demand immediate payment.

The objective is to prevent you from thinking rationally or independently verifying the information.

By exploiting your love and concern for your relative, the fraudster hopes you will send money before discovering that the entire story is fabricated.

Remember: An unexpected call about an accident does not automatically mean that an accident has occurred.

Do Government Hospitals Demand Payment Before Treating Emergency Patients?

This is an important point that members of the public should understand.

Most government hospitals in Ghana have established protocols for receiving and providing immediate attention to emergency patients before requesting payment for services.

Emergency medical care is not supposed to be treated simply as a transaction where payment must always come before attention.

Therefore, if someone calls claiming that your relative has been involved in an accident and insists that you must immediately send Mobile Money before the hospital can attend to the patient, exercise caution.

Do not allow such claims to pressure you into making an unverified payment.

If you are uncertain, contact the hospital directly through its official telephone number and verify the situation.

7 Ways to Protect Yourself From Fake Accident Calls and MoMo Fraud

1. Do not panic

Scammers deliberately create fear and urgency. Take a moment to assess the situation before making any financial commitment.

2. Call your relative directly

Use the telephone number you already have for the person allegedly involved in the accident. Do not rely exclusively on the number provided by the caller.

3. Contact other family members

If the person is unreachable, contact their spouse, siblings, children or another trusted family member to establish the facts.

4. Verify the hospital admission

If the caller mentions a particular hospital, independently obtain the facility’s official contact details and make enquiries through the appropriate channels, subject to patient confidentiality requirements.

5. Do not send MoMo to unfamiliar numbers

Never transfer money simply because someone claims that a medical emergency has occurred. Verify the identity of the recipient and the legitimacy of the request.

6. Preserve evidence and report suspected fraud

Keep suspicious telephone numbers, messages, transaction references and other relevant information. Report suspected fraud to your mobile money provider and the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

7. Educate your family

Make sure elderly parents, young adults, relatives and friends understand how this scam works. A few minutes of education could prevent significant financial losses.

Travelling This Festive Season? Carry Your Ghana Card and NHIS Information

Beyond protecting yourself from financial fraud, preparing for unexpected medical emergencies is equally important.

As people travel across Ghana during the festive season, I encourage everyone to take a few basic health and safety precautions.

1. Always travel with your Ghana Card

Your Ghana Card is an important means of identification. Ensure you have it with you when travelling, as identification may be necessary when accessing certain services.

2. Keep your NHIS membership active

If you are registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), check that your membership is valid and up to date.

Having an active NHIS membership can help eligible members access covered healthcare services at accredited facilities, subject to the scheme’s benefit package and applicable requirements.

3. Register for NHIS using your mobile phone

Did you know that you can register for NHIS using your mobile phone and Ghana Card through the official NHIS mobile application?

If you have not registered, consider doing so before travelling.

We will be publishing a separate, detailed, step-by-step guide explaining how to register for NHIS using your Ghana Card and mobile phone.

Watch this space!

4. Keep emergency contacts accessible

Save important family contacts and ensure someone you trust knows your travel plans.

5. Do not ignore road safety

Observe speed limits, avoid distracted driving, wear seat belts and never drive under the influence of alcohol or other impairing substances.

What Should You Do If You Have Already Sent Money to a Scammer?

If you discover that you have sent Mobile Money to someone using a fabricated accident emergency:

1. Contact your mobile money service provider immediately.
2. Report the transaction and request assistance with tracing or attempting to reverse the transfer.
3. Preserve the transaction ID, recipient number and all communications.
4. Report the incident to the Ghana Police Service.
5. Do not send additional money to anyone claiming they can recover your funds for an upfront fee.

Acting quickly may improve the chances of preventing further losses, although recovery is not guaranteed.

Final Thoughts: Let’s Protect One Another This Festive Season

Scammers understand human emotions. They know that when someone hears that a loved one has been involved in an accident, fear and anxiety can take over.

That is precisely what they exploit.

As we approach the festive season, let us be more conscious of the calls we receive, the financial transactions we make and the information we share.

Please share this article with your parents, siblings, spouses, friends, colleagues and members of your community. You never know whose hard-earned money or family could be saved by sharing this information.

An emergency should prompt you to verify, not panic. Compassion should never replace caution.

STAY ALERT. VERIFY BEFORE YOU SEND MOMO. TRAVEL SAFELY. AND LET’S TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER!

Disclaimer: This article is intended for public awareness and fraud prevention. It does not replace official guidance from the Ghana Police Service, NHIA or individual healthcare facilities.