Confidence tricksters on the loose
Over the weekend, I was at a friend's birthday party and he introduced me to some of the people present as a journalist with the Graphic Communications Group Limited.
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Some of the people immediately said they were familiar with my name, while others said the name rang a bell.
We were partying, having fun and exchanging pleasantries when one of the guys I had met earlier came back to me after about an hour and half.
He said to me, "Vance, I have a story for you" and beckoned me to follow him outside, which I did.
He narrated the ordeal he went through during an encounter with some unscrupulous men who had perpetrated some fraud against him and many others, unknown, though, through the power of radio and on the Internet via social media.
Initially, I presumed that his story was the same thing that had been in the public domain for some time now and which had prompted the Inspector General of Police to declare his intention to shut down activities on social media on Election Day.
As my new friend went on with his story, I realised that I was very wrong and that the unfolding story was a serious issue that required urgent attention.
According to my friend, who I will for now refer to as Papa Arko (not his real name), for some time now the economic difficulties facing the country which had eroded the purchasing power of majority of Ghanaian workers had pushed him into gambling by way of staking lotto to help him make ends meet.
Papa Arko told me that on a few occasions he had won between GH¢400 and GH¢1,000. A few weeks ago, he tuned in to a radio station (93.9 FM) between 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. and heard a man who described himself as a fortune teller who could predict with precision lotto numbers which could help listeners and those willing to play ball change their lives — from the poverty-stricken state to a rich and affluent individual.
Papa Arko told me he was sure Agya Lottoman was able to capture a lot of those who listened to him with his great oratory skills and asked all those who were interested in benefitting from his largesse to call him the next day after they had wired GH¢50 via MTN mobile money (0241579737).
My friend said listening to Agya Lottoman energised him and he could not wait for the next day to come. He quickly wired the GHc¢50 to Agya Lottoman, who acknowledged receipt of the money and asked Papa Arko to call him back after two hours.
Papa Arko did just that and Agya Lottoman gave him two numbers which he said were direct and were surely going to drop.
Later, when the numbers were drawn, disappointment was all over his face. None of the numbers given by Agya Lottoman dropped.
He tried reaching Agya Lottoman immediately but his phone was off. Eventually when he made contact with Agya Lottoman, he (Lottoman) could not offer any tangible reason for the disappointment and rather asked Papa Arko to call him around midday. My friend did that and had another set of numbers (two direct).
This time, one of the numbers dropped and the second one was turned.
He again tried to reach Agya Lottoman but he has not been successful since then.
Papa Arko again went on social media, where he met a friend on Facebook who said on that particular day he had successfully released three numbers which dropped as part of the winning numbers that were drawn. That new friend’s request was not different from Agya Lottoman's — he demanded that GH¢100 be wired to him through MTN mobile money on 0555041010.
That was complied with and he asked that he be called at 5:45 p.m. He also gave his numbers but they never dropped and has since been playing tricks with Papa Arko.
This and other crimes keep recurring in the media, on radio and social media in particular where criminal-minded persons are taking advantage of the vulnerable, poor and financially hard-pressed Ghanaians who are fighting tooth and nail to break even and get some food on the table.
I do not subscribe to any idea by the police, the National Communications Authority or any security agency launching an onslaught on social media users, but the way things are going I expect the police to remain vigilant and deal with these charlatans who are taking advantage of the economic difficulties Ghanaians are facing to reap where they have not sown.
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I trust that the Inspector General of Police and his able lieutenants will initiate undercover investigations to bring these culprits to book. After all, I have provided the telephone numbers of these tricksters which I believe have been duly registered.