The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has recorded a hundred percent increase in romance fraud in just six months.

Data from the authority show that in 2022, 13 individuals comprising eight males and five females, were duped of some GH ¢ 900,000.

Whereas from January to June 12, 2023, twice as many people, thus 18 males and seven females, were scammed almost GH¢ 2.4 million.

According to the authority, this is a big jump in the cases reported in 2022, adding that scammers aren’t slowing down on tricking more people.

Speaking to JoyNews’ Maame Esi Thompson, Lead of the Computer Emergency Response Team at the CSA, Stephen Cudjoe-Seshie, said the cases are seeing a significant increase because some people are tricked to believe they are in love.

“What happens is that they think they are in love with somebody but eventually they lose valuables, money, they lose property or investment to these people,” he said.

Mr Cudjoe-Seshie however explained that, the authority did not have enough evidence to involve the police, but has increased its efforts in educating people on romance scams.

So far, he said Ghanaians and foreigners have been victims of the romance scam.

“We get reports from Ghanaians that are local, we also get report from some Ghanaians that are outside. We also have report of cases where there are actually foreigners that have experienced from people they think are Ghanaians,” he said.

When asked what the authority does to the offenders, he said “what we typically will do is that, we pick up the details and involve the law enforcement agencies.”