Ghanaians have lost more than GH¢296,000 to restaurant and food-vendor impersonation scams in the first six months of 2026, according to the Cyber Security Authority (CSA).
This was disclosed by the Authority in a statement warning of a growing scheme in which cybercriminals manipulate or create online listings of legitimate restaurants and food vendors to defraud customers.
According to the CSA, 112 cases involving vendors and customers were recorded between January and June 2026, compared with 61 cases during the same period in 2025.
Financial losses also increased sharply from GH¢84,592 during the first half of last year to GH¢296,083.68 over the same period this year.
The CSA explained that fraudsters create fake listings or alter the contact details of legitimate restaurants and food vendors on Google Search, Google Maps and other online platforms.
The scammers typically replace genuine telephone numbers with their own by abusing the “suggest an edit” feature, claiming unverified business profiles or creating duplicate listings.
In some cases, they also purchase sponsored search advertisements to ensure the fraudulent contact details appear prominently in search results.
Customers who unknowingly contact the scammers are asked to place food orders and make payments to specified mobile money numbers. After receiving the money, the fraudsters cut communication without delivering the food.
Other victims are directed to fraudulent payment links that request personal information, including their names, delivery addresses and mobile money numbers. The information is subsequently used to carry out unauthorised transactions.
The CSA has therefore urged the public to verify the contact details of restaurants and food vendors through their official websites, verified social media accounts or trusted food delivery platforms before placing orders.
“Never share your mobile money PIN, OTP, banking credentials or other personal information on any website or with any individual,” the Authority warned.
Customers have also been advised to avoid unfamiliar payment links, reject payment prompts they did not initiate and confirm payment instructions directly with restaurants using independently verified contact information.
The CSA further advised restaurants and food vendors to regularly monitor their online business profiles for unauthorised changes or duplicate listings and ensure that their official contact numbers and approved payment channels are clearly displayed on verified platforms.
Read below the statement
