Reactive Imaging

Fraud increases demand for background checks

Ghana appears to have adopted many of the fraud methods used in Nigeria. In fact, many professional scammers have relocated to Ghana in order to escape the "bad reputation" of Nigeria for its high level of fraud. Other fraud operations simply have affiliate, criminal networks in Ghana that they hope will diminish their Nigeria stigma. This transition of advance-fee fraud and scams means Ghana is the emerging market for fraud.

Accra is capital of Ghana and the home of an estimated 6 million people, and the population is growing very rapidly. The city continues to attract foreign investment and is the center for Ghana's international commerce and foreign trade.

International business is becoming a way of life here. Doing business in Accra, Ghana can mean opportunity and profit. With this big potential reward, however, comes new substantial risks.

Foreign businesses aren't alone in this increasingly risky market. Similar to a small business in London or Singapore having to verify its business relationship in Accra, many individuals are finding personal relationships in Ghana. Whether its romance or a new business contact, we recommend a background check.

Most of us think the scams, such as advance-fee fraud, simply aren't going to happen to us. Unfortunately, as the world has grown wise to Africa's scams, the fraudsters have grown quite sophisticated. Business scammers now have the industry know how, and they use the lingo. They have resumes and references. Beautiful women (including white women) in Accra definitely exist, but the number of men portraying to be these women is staggering. Here too, the players are professional. They carry on phone conversatons, send email, provide visa and passport copies, and more. Ghana scammers are some of the best.

How can one entering into a business or personal relationship in Ghana learn the truth? We strongly recommend a professional background check, preferably a firm not based in Africa but with local investigators who understand the local customs, etc. Wymoo International is currently the industry leader for Ghana background checks. According to Vice President, David Wilkerson, businesses and individuals should always "enter into relationships with insurance given the amount of fraud here, and a professional background check is prudent policy."

Best of luck,

A. Hathaway
© 2006-2008 A. Hathaway

About the Author:
A. Hathaway has 20+ years of experience in fraud prevention, foreign markets, international investigations and background checks. He has served as lead investigator for cases in over 20 countries in 5 continents. Hathaway works as a consultant for international private investigators and maintains his own private investigation blog.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Ghana Scams on the Rise

Fake Shipping Company Scam

This information has been reprinted as a public service to our customers and blog readers. No third-party company mentioned is endorsed, recommended or positively identified as legitimate or otherwise by Reactive Imaging.

Regardless of the stated country of origin, the tell-tale signs are evident as you compare the messages on this page. Apparently after the initial quote request for a rather large order of considerable weight, the company owner is asked to work out international shipping with a separate company. The routine seems to be justified by the so-called customer indicating he is traveling. Comments about God and religion may be added to imply trustworthiness. The email addresses, like "burn phones," are disposable. The email may include a few industry-specific phrases to appear legit but the entire premise of the order is suspect. Amid punctuation and grammar errors is the underlying request to pay exorbitant shipping fees for something that could be purchased within the destination country. Sometimes the order itself is suspicious. (i.e. 70 banners in 7 different sizes saying the same thing.) Remember, a greedy fool and his money are easily separated.

It can be extrapolated that the goal is to get someone (other than the "customer") to pay for shipping in hopes of being reimbursed with payment for the large order. It has also been reported on blogs that scammers may use stolen credit card numbers (from an owner who may not be aware of it until weeks later) or request wire transfers. Hence, after the transaction is "approved," the merchant may be compelled to ship the order or pay for shipping with the "money" (temporarily) deposited into his account. In the end, the business may have the sale rescinded plus lose the merchandise.

Requests consume the time of legitimate printing companies to generate useless quotes. If you receive a similar inquiry, proceed with caution. It may be wise to ignore it or reply by saying the work order has been declined by your fraud prevention department.

If none of the sidebar emails are suspicious enough, take a look at the clincher below that likely comes after two or three others to build confidence.

An Internet search for "Ghana scams" reveals deceptive schemes are not limited to printing and banner companies. There are reports of dating scams, precious metals, and falsified bank document scams. Certainly, they are not limited to Ghana but most involve international shipping and fraudulent bank cards.