The Ghana Police Service has arrested seven suspects in connection with a sophisticated scheme involving fraudulent electronic traffic violation notices sent to members of the public.

The scam, which circulated over the past week, involved messages purporting to come from the Police Service, directing recipients to click on links to pay supposed fines. Investigations revealed that the operation was designed to defraud unsuspecting Ghanaians through multiple mobile money transfers.

Speaking at the National Police Headquarters in Accra on Thursday, February 26, Chief Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng said the arrests follow a coordinated operation by the Police Intelligence Directorate, in collaboration with cybercrime units.

“Seven suspects have been taken into custody, all of whom are assisting with ongoing investigations,” he confirmed.

Investigators found that proceeds collected from victims were routed through multiple mobile money accounts before being consolidated by suspect Martha Quarshie, a vendor based in Ada. Following her interrogation, police arrested Prosper Otumfour, identified as the central figure in the network, at his residence in Winneba. Authorities recovered GH?4,188 in cash, multiple SIM cards, mobile phones, and laptops believed to have been used in the scheme.

Subsequent arrests included Robert Akplehe and Christian Akplehe, both mobile money vendors, and Michael Edem Amemornu, identified as a recipient of the fraudulent funds. Searches at their homes and workplaces yielded additional electronic devices, SIM cards, bank cards, and cash totalling several thousand cedis.

Police investigations revealed the operation’s modus operandi: Prosper Otumfour registered Telecel Cash SIM cards in the names of associates, including several of the arrested suspects, to collect payments from victims. Funds were then transferred to Martha Quarshie, who redistributed the money, creating a layered system designed to obscure the trail.

All seven suspects—Martha Quarshie, Peter Ofori McCarthy, Alfred Kofi Totimeh, Prosper Otumfour, Robert Akplehe, Christian Akplehe, and Michael Edem Amemornu—remain in custody and will be charged in court. Investigations are ongoing to identify additional members of the syndicate.

The Police Service commended the swift response and professionalism of officers involved in the multi-location operation, which spanned Accra, Ada, and Winneba.

In a related development, the Police announced plans to roll out an automated traffic law enforcement programme, Traffitech-GH, aimed at improving road safety and reducing fraud in the issuance of traffic fines. The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Transport, National Road Safety Authority, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, and the Ministry of Finance.

The Ghana Police Service reiterated its commitment to protecting the public from fraud and cybercrime and warned that anyone attempting to exploit its name for criminal purposes would face swift legal action.