Ghanaians have been warned by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) not to take or save naked photos or films of oneself on electronic devices since they might be used by hackers for extortion and blackmail.
The CSA pointed out in a public notice on May 2, 2025, the increasing complexity and frequency of online blackmail methods, citing financial damages from sextortion instances that increased from GH¢103,663 in January to April 2024 to GH¢499,044 in the same time in 2025.
The Authority claims that in order to trick unwary people into engaging in amorous or flirty exchanges, fraudsters usually fabricate phoney social media profiles with eye-catching profile pictures. After building confidence, the criminals force their victims to divulge private information or take part in sexual video chats that are surreptitiously filmed without their knowledge or permission.
According to the CSA, "these materials are then used to extort money from victims, who are under threat of public exposure unless they pay a ransom—usually through mobile money transfers."
Paying a ransom does not ensure that compromising material would be removed, the message said. On the contrary, criminals often escalate their threats or continue to make demands.
"Victims should immediately stop communicating with the threat actors if they are targeted." The warning recommended against paying any ransom since it does not guarantee that the information will be removed and instead merely serves to promote recurrent extortion.
In addition to reporting the event to the CSA, victims are advised to save any evidence, including as screenshots, usernames, URLs, communications, and payment demands. Additionally, the Authority advised victims to look for emotional help from qualified therapists or dependable family members.
The CSA suggested the following safeguards to stop such attacks:
Refrain from accepting friend requests from unfamiliar people on the internet;
Relationships that develop fast online or that need explicit material should be avoided;
Limit who has access to postings on social media and keep accounts secret;
Never save or distribute naked photos or movies on any kind of gadget.
"Sextortion and online blackmail are becoming more complex, with detrimental effects on one's finances and mental health. The CSA cautioned Ghanaians to be alert and take preventative measures to safeguard themselves online.
The Authority reaffirmed that everyone has a shared responsibility for digital safety and encouraged people to report any suspected cybercrime by emailing report@csa.gov.gh, phoning or texting 292, or sending a WhatsApp message to 0501603111.
See the whole statement below.
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