The Ghana Police Service has arrested ten individuals for allegedly operating fake online food delivery platforms to defraud unsuspecting customers.
According to a statement from the Cybercrime Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the suspects created counterfeit websites and social media accounts posing as popular food brands, including Papaye, Pizzaman, KFC, and Mawarko. Victims who placed food orders were directed to make advance mobile money payments but never received their meals.
The first six suspects — Wonder Sakpiti, Sedinam Amaglo, Godsway Dunyo, Angela Agblemekpe, Mathew Aheto, and Fafali Amoah — were apprehended during an operation at Sogakope on October 1, 2025, following weeks of intelligence gathering.
Police investigations later revealed that the suspects not only took money from victims under false pretenses but, in some instances, also gained unauthorized access to victims’ mobile money and bank accounts while pretending to help them complete transactions. Several digital devices believed to have been used in the fraudulent activity were seized and are currently undergoing forensic examination.
Further leads from the initial arrests resulted in the capture of the alleged ringleader, Elijah Sotama Etse, also known as Pop Smoke, and three accomplices — Elliot Sotama Atsu, Jethro Atsu, and Obed Selasi Agboli — at their hideout in Haatso, Accra, on October 12, 2025. Police retrieved twelve mobile phones from the suspects, which are also being examined as part of the investigation.
All ten suspects are in police custody and are expected to appear before court today, Monday, October 13, 2025.
The Police have urged members of the public who may have fallen victim to similar online food scams to report to the nearest police station to support ongoing investigations.
