As the festive season draws near, one of the most common scams resurfacing involves individuals claiming they have arrived in the country but are unable to access local currency.

Typical explanations include delayed forex, non-functioning bank cards, or funds that have “not yet cleared.”

However, a technology consultant, Mr Derek Laryea, is warning that any genuine person travelling from abroad this season was well prepared and had multiple options of financing emergencies long before they travelled.

In an interview with The Mirror last Wednesday, he explained that such individuals can easily seek support from family, their host, hotel staff, their bank, the airline that transported them, or any of the numerous forex bureaux at the Kotoka International Airport upon arrival.

He said people must not fall for “My dollars haven’t cleared”, “My forex got delayed”, “My bank card isn’t working” and “I need help till I settle” as they were lines used in scamming unsuspecting people.

He explained that most of those requests came from people who had created profiles on social media pages, built relationships in short periods, just to defraud people.

He explained that one of the first warning signs appeared in a scammer’s digital footprint. These include recently created social media accounts, profiles with very few or suspicious-looking photos, and individuals who refuse to appear on video calls.

December in Ghana

For many years, it has been common for Ghanaians living abroad or in other parts of the world to return home in December to reconnect with family and enjoy the festive season. This tradition has long been part of Ghanaian culture.

However, in recent years, the introduction of December in Ghana festivities and special events has made the holiday period even more attractive, drawing an even larger number of visitors into the country each year.

It has also become common that after the festive season, social media is filled with stories of people who have been scammed out of various sums of money—often by individuals who claimed they had just arrived in Ghana for the holidays and had no local currency, or were expecting goods that never came.

In some cases, there are even reports from women who say they were impregnated by men they believed to be “borgas,” as returnees are popularly called.

Emotional connection

Mr Laryea explained that these scammers create dramatic emergencies, insist on secrecy, rush conversation and become overly friendly within a short period.

These tactics are to get their victims to trust them before making financial demands. “Scammers rely heavily on urgency and emotional manipulation. Slow down the pace, and you will often see the deception clearly,” he advised.

Staying safe online

The technology consultant added that adopting simple but effective safety practices could significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to fraud.

“Verify identities before engaging with anyone online, especially if money or personal information is involved. Limit public posts, particularly those revealing location, travel plans or financial details. Educate family members, including parents and teenagers, who may be more vulnerable to online risks."

“Ghana is a warm and welcoming nation, and generosity is part of who we are. But generosity must never override good judgment. This festive season, protect your heart, your wallet, and your peace of mind. Being careful is not being harsh; it is being wise,” he advised.