Online extortion in Ghana amounts to nearly 500,000 GHC in the first half of 2025.
In the digital age, Ghana, like many countries, is grappling with an increase in cybercrime. While there is no direct data available quantifying the increase of online blackmail and sextortion among Ghanaians between 2024 and 2025, the broader cybercrime landscape has seen significant growth globally. This is reflected in Ghana’s rising cases of digital fraud, which affect about 8% of mobile money users in the country.
The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) in Ghana has taken notice of this trend and launched campaigns like "Safe Digital Ghana" in 2025 to address rising cybersecurity threats. This indicates increased awareness of online risks, including blackmail and sextortion.
Cybercriminals exploiting victims typically use tactics such as ransomware and data extortion, phishing and social engineering, exploitation of vulnerabilities, and the use of fake identities and insider threats. In the Ghanaian context, online blackmail and sextortion often involve threat actors gaining access to intimate images or videos through social engineering or malware, then threatening victims for money or further exploitation. The increased penetration of mobile money services and social media provides new avenues for such cybercrime.
The CSA is urging the public to be cautious online. Many sextortion perpetrators are now using encrypted apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal to evade tracking. The CSA has warned that sending money does not stop blackmail in the context of sextortion. To combat these threats, the CSA advises against sharing intimate content online and encourages people to report suspicious behavior through its 24-hour cybersecurity hotline.
The number of sextortion cases reported to the CSA has slightly increased compared to the 155 cases recorded in early 2024. The CSA is also encouraging people to avoid unknown online contacts.
As the digital world continues to evolve, it is crucial for individuals and authorities to stay vigilant and proactive in combating cybercrime. The CSA's efforts in raising awareness and encouraging reporting of suspicious activities are steps in the right direction towards ensuring a safer digital Ghana.
- The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) in Ghana, as a response to the increase in cybercrime, including online blackmail and sextortion, has launched technology-driven campaigns like "Safe Digital Ghana" to address rising cybersecurity threats.
- In the digital world's ever-evolving landscape, the CSA in Ghana advises individuals to stay vigilant against cybercriminals who exploit technology for sextortion, often using encrypted apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, by being cautious online, avoiding sharing intimate content, and reporting suspicious behavior through its 24-hour cybersecurity hotline.
