News · Ernest Adjei Bekoe

Cybercriminals study you for months before attacking – CSA Boss

The Director-General of the  Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Divine Selase Agbeti, has warned that cyber fraudsters now spend weeks and months studying their victims on social media before launching attacks .

“These guys in cyber fraud, they study you. They just don’t call you; they just don’t launch their attacks. They spend days, weeks, months on social media studying you,” he said. Speaking at the launch of the National Community Media Cyber Capacity Building Project on August 3, 2026, Mr. Agbeti said cybercriminals use information gathered online to profile individuals and pose as trusted persons or helpers in order to defraud them. The project was held under the theme: “Advancing Ghana’s National Security and Cyber Defence Objectives through Community Media Strengthening for Cybercrime Awareness and Digital Risk Communication.” He urged Ghanaians to be cautious about the information they share online, noting that fraudsters often use personal details from social media to build trust with their targets before carrying out attacks. Mr. Agbeti said cybercrime is no longer a distant threat but a daily reality affecting ordinary citizens through mobile money fraud, online investment scams, romance fraud, identity theft, sextortion and business email compromise. “Today, cybercrime is no longer a distant problem. It affects ordinary Ghanaians every day. Mobile money fraud, online investment scams like the recent ones — I know a lot of people who are affected as well,” he said. “Romance fraud, identity theft, sextortion, business email compromise and impersonation are now common,” he added. The CSA Director-General described cybercrime operations as highly organised, involving criminal networks that operate across borders. “Behind many of these crimes are organised criminal networks operating across borders. And they are really organised,” he said. Mr. Agbeti emphasised the important role of the media in fighting cybercrime, saying journalists must go beyond reporting incidents to helping prevent them. “One of our strongest partners in this fight is the media. The media does far more than reporting incidents. You prevent them,” he said. “A single radio discussion in a local language can prevent thousands of people from becoming victims of fraud. A television interview can expose a scam before it spreads nationwide. Accurate and responsible reporting can protect lives, businesses and even national security,” he added. He further noted that as cyber threats increasingly intersect with organised crime, violent extremism and terrorism, the media has a responsibility to educate the public without creating unnecessary fear or amplifying criminal activities. “Criminal and extremist groups now use digital platforms to spread propaganda, recruit followers, raise funds and manipulate public opinion. The media therefore has a critical responsibility to inform the public without spreading fear, to expose harmful activities without amplifying criminal or extremist messages, and to educate citizens on recognising and resisting online manipulation,” he said. Source:Love Wilhelmina Abanonave

(Gbcghanaonline)