The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has advised victims of online blackmail and cyber fraud to report such incidents immediately instead of paying money demanded by perpetrators.

The Authority says responding to extortion demands by cybercriminals does not guarantee that victims’ private materials will not be released and may encourage criminals to continue exploiting them.

The Acting Director of Communications, International Cooperation and Strategic Partnership at the CSA, Benjamin Maduro Avornyotse, said the authority has recorded several cases involving individuals who were lured into intimate online interactions and later threatened with the release of private videos.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse, Mr Avornyotse said some fraudsters use social media platforms to establish relationships with victims, persuade them to engage in intimate video calls and secretly record the interactions for blackmail.

He explained that such acts constitute extortion and are offences under Ghana’s cyber security laws.

“We receive reports on all of that. We have carried out a number of arrests in respect of that too because the Act actually frowns on such extortion where people use your intimate videos that you’ve not consented to, to try to threaten you and ask you to pay certain monies or ransoms,” he said.

Mr Avornyotse encouraged victims not to remain silent due to fear or embarrassment, stressing that the CSA has professionals who can provide support and take steps to address such cases.

He said one of the first actions taken when a report is received is to help victims disengage from the perpetrators and prevent further interaction that could increase the risk of exploitation.

“The first thing we try to do is for you to disengage and not to pay them money,” he added.

According to him, the CSA also works with law enforcement agencies to trace suspects, investigate their activities and take steps to prevent the spread of stolen intimate content.

He disclosed that in some cases, the authority uses technical interventions to make videos unusable if criminals attempt to circulate them online.

However, Mr Avornyotse cautioned victims against withholding relevant information when seeking help, explaining that incomplete details can affect the ability of authorities to fully address the situation.

He cited a case where a victim submitted only one of several videos being used for blackmail, while other materials later surfaced online because they had not been brought to the attention of investigators.

The CSA official said the authority continues to collaborate with the Ghana Police Service, particularly the Cyber Crime Unit, in investigating cases and supporting prosecutions.

He noted that several arrests and prosecutions have been achieved through these collaborations, both locally and internationally.