The suspects
Four persons have been remanded into police custody by a Circuit Court in Accra for allegedly operating a fraudulent online food delivery service.
The accused, Elliot Sotama Atsu, 20; Elijah Sotama Etse, 20; Jethro Atsu, 20; and Selasi Agboli, 21, according to court documents, created fake food delivery platforms mimicking well-known brands like Papaye, Pizzaman Chickenman, KFC, and Mawarko.
By doing this, they had unauthorised access to victims mobile money wallet and bank accounts, and managed to lure unsuspecting victims to place orders for food and subsequently made payment, but never received the food.
The four have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and defrauding by false pretences. Their pleas have been reserved as investigations continue.
The court, presided over by Her Honour Jojo Amoah Hagan, remanded the accused to reappear on November 3, 2025, as the police conduct further investigations into the matter.
The prosecution’s brief facts indicate that the accused were arrested by personnel from the Cybercrime Unit of the Ghana Police Service at their hideout at Haatso in Accra, following intelligence gathered on suspected fraudulent activities of some persons within Sogakope and its environs.
They are alleged to have engaged in fraudulent activities by creating fake online food delivery services platforms mimicking established brands like Papaye, Pizzaman Chickenman, KFC, Mawarko and others.
“Unsuspecting customers who come across these fake portals on Google placed orders for food online and are instructed to make payments in advance through mobile money accounts provided by the scammers,” the facts state.
The facts pointed out that after payment was made, the victims never received the food they ordered.
Twelve mobile phones suspected to have been used in the fraudulent activities were retrieved during the operation and will undergo digital forensic examination to assist in the investigation.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak