Ghanaian cybercrime investigator Dunstan Guba has urged the public to be more alert to the ways criminals are exploiting online relationships to carry out fraud.

The warning comes at a time when social media and dating platforms have made it easier for people to meet and develop relationships with individuals they may never have encountered in person.

Guba, a Cyber Intelligence Lead with the Ghana Police Service, has worked in cybercrime investigations and digital forensics and has also been involved in training and public education on emerging forms of digital crime.

Romance fraud is one area where the emotional nature of human relationships can be exploited for financial gain.

Unlike some forms of online fraud that involve an immediate demand for money, romance scams can develop gradually. A fraudster may first create an attractive or convincing online identity, initiate conversations with a target and spend considerable time establishing familiarity.

The relationship can then become a channel through which the victim is manipulated.

After gaining the person’s confidence, the fraudster may introduce a financial problem and ask for assistance. In other cases, the victim may be persuaded to buy goods, send money for an alleged emergency or provide information that could later be used for further fraud.

Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority drew attention to the scale of the problem in February 2024 when it issued a public warning about romance and online shopping scams ahead of Valentine’s Day.

The Authority reported that online shopping and romance scams accounted for losses of at least GH¢3,558,940 in 2023.

The figure underscored the financial consequences of scams that often begin with what appears to be an ordinary online interaction.

Academic research published in 2024 has also examined the methods used by romance fraudsters operating from Ghana. Research in the Journal of Economic Criminology identified a process involving the creation of deceptive profiles, selection and research of potential victims, relationship building, execution of the fraud and eventual abandonment of the target.

That process highlights why romance fraud can be particularly difficult to identify in its early stages.

The absence of an immediate financial request does not necessarily mean that an online relationship is genuine. Fraudsters can spend weeks or months communicating with victims while collecting information about their interests, circumstances and personal lives.

International investigations have similarly drawn attention to the sophistication of romance fraud associated with Ghana. A September 2024 CBS News investigation examined cases involving American victims and scammers operating from Ghana, showing how digital communication has transformed the way such schemes are conducted.

The growing sophistication of these crimes has placed greater emphasis on digital awareness.

Guba’s experience in cyber intelligence, digital forensics and law enforcement training gives him a perspective that extends beyond the traditional understanding of internet scams. His work has also included teaching at the Detective Training Academy, where investigators are trained in areas related to cybercrime and digital investigations.

The challenge, however, is not solely for investigators.

As more Ghanaians use social media and online platforms to establish friendships, professional relationships and romantic connections, individuals also have a role to play in protecting themselves.

Requests for money from someone known only through the internet, repeated emergencies, pressure to keep a relationship secret or demands for sensitive financial information can all warrant closer scrutiny.

The central lesson is that familiarity online should not automatically be treated as proof of trustworthiness.

For a country experiencing rapid growth in digital connectivity, tackling romance fraud will require more than investigations after money has been lost. Public education, responsible use of social media and greater awareness of manipulation tactics remain important tools in preventing people from becoming victims.

Guba’s work therefore reflects a broader challenge facing Ghana’s digital society: as technology creates new ways for people to connect, criminals are also finding new ways to exploit those connections.