Central East Regional Police Command Arrests Two Suspects in GH¢100,000 TikTok Vehicle Sale Fraud

The Central East Regional Police Command has apprehended two individuals, Chidubem Oba Precious, 31, and Ama Mankye, 28, for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent online vehicle sale scheme. The suspects are accused of defrauding an unsuspecting buyer of GH¢100,323 through a sophisticated scam orchestrated on the social media platform TikTok. Following a complaint lodged on February 10, police investigations tracked the fraudulent activities back to the duo, leading to their arrest on June 12. The scheme involved the advertisement of a Jetour hybrid vehicle, priced at approximately US$8,800, which enticed the victim into a series of financial transactions.

According to police reports, the victim initiated payments in late 2022 after engaging with the suspects via the social media advertisement. The fraudulent operation utilized fake documentation, including a forged bill of lading, to convince the buyer that the transaction was legitimate and that the vehicle was being processed for delivery. In total, the victim transferred GH¢100,323 into various bank accounts linked to the suspects. Investigation further revealed that the criminal network relied on these counterfeit documents and bank accounts to mask their identities and facilitate the illegal transfer of funds before the victim realized the vehicle did not exist.

The suspects were subsequently arraigned before the Ofaakor Circuit Court. The court ordered Chidubem Oba Precious to be remanded in custody, while Ama Mankye was granted bail as proceedings continue. Despite these successful arrests, the police have identified a third accomplice, Theresa Ziam, who remains at large and is currently being pursued by authorities. The Central East Regional Police Command has issued a call to the general public, urging any other individuals who may have fallen victim to similar online vehicle scams to come forward and report their cases to assist in the ongoing investigation and the capture of the remaining suspect.