CSA Director-General Divine Selase Agbeti Alerts Public to Sophisticated Social Media Reconnaissance by Cybercriminals

Divine Selase Agbeti, the Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), has issued a stark warning regarding the evolving sophistication of cybercriminals in Ghana. Speaking at the launch of the National Community Media Cyber Capacity Building Project on August 3, 2026, Agbeti revealed that fraudsters now conduct extensive research on their targets, often monitoring social media profiles for months before launching a coordinated attack. This meticulous approach allows criminals to gather intimate details about their victims' lives, making their eventual scams significantly more convincing and harder to detect.

According to the CSA boss, these cybercriminals utilize the wealth of personal information shared online to create detailed psychological and social profiles of their targets. By studying patterns of life, family connections, and professional associations, attackers can impersonate trusted individuals or craft highly personalized messages that exploit a victim's trust. Agbeti noted that the organized nature of these criminal operations has moved beyond simple technical exploits to advanced social engineering, where the long-term reconnaissance phase is just as critical as the final execution of the fraud.

The Director-General highlighted several prevalent forms of cybercrime currently plaguing the country, including mobile money (MoMo) fraud, identity theft, investment scams, and romance fraud. He emphasized that the common thread in these crimes is often the misuse of publicly available data. By understanding a victim’s interests and social circle, fraudsters are better equipped to manipulate individuals into releasing funds or sensitive credentials. The CSA remains concerned about the rising frequency of these incidents and their impact on the financial and digital security of ordinary Ghanaians.

To combat this growing threat, Agbeti underscored the indispensable role of the media in public education. He urged journalists and community media outlets to take an active role in raising awareness without inciting unnecessary panic. The CSA is advocating for responsible reporting that equips citizens with the knowledge to manage their digital footprints effectively. By being more cautious about the personal information shared online and maintaining a healthy level of skepticism toward unsolicited digital interactions, Ghanaians can better protect themselves from becoming the next targets of these strategic cyber operations.