Telecommunication companies have unanimously decided to take drastic measures to curb mobile money fraud in the country.

During a media engagement on Friday, the Chief Executive of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevoh, disclosed that mobile money fraudsters will now have their numbers and device blocked across all networks.

According to him, the decision which was rolled out two months ago will help combat the practice.

“So we have come together as a Chamber to say ‘how do we intensify or increase the barriers to fraud?’ And blocking the device across all networks is for us one step to achieve that.

“This is one of the activities we are currently focused on, and we have implemented it through the chamber,” he said.

By 2017, Ghana had over 11 million active mobile money accounts.

But in recent times, incidents of mobile money fraud have increased. Statistics from the cybercrime unit of the Ghana Police Service showed over 300 reported cases in 2019.

As a result, MTN, the biggest mobile money operator in Ghana, has introduced a new policy. It requires proof of identity (ID) before a customer can withdraw cash.

Valid forms of proof are a driver’s licence, voter’s ID, passport, Social Security and National Insurance Trust ID, National Health Insurance card or Ghana card (national ID).

All mobile money agents will have to select the ID type and enter the ID card number presented by the customer before completing the transaction.