Your phone number has quietly become one of the most valuable things you own. It receives the one-time codes that let you into Mobile Money, banking apps, WhatsApp and email. SIM swap fraud is the trick of moving your number onto a SIM card the fraudster controls, so those codes go to them instead of you.

It is not the most common scam in Ghana, but it is one of the most damaging when it works. The Bank of Ghana reported about GH₵4.6 million lost to SIM swap fraud in 2023, across 15 recorded cases. That is an average of roughly GH₵300,000 per case.

How a SIM swap attack works

  1. The fraudster collects your details. Your name, date of birth, Ghana Card number or other information, often from social media, a phishing call, a fake form or a leaked document.
  2. They get your number moved to a new SIM. This can involve impersonating you, using forged documents, or working with a dishonest insider.
  3. Your phone loses service. Your SIM stops working because your number is now on their card.
  4. They receive your codes and try to get into your wallet, bank app or WhatsApp, often within hours.

The warning signs

  • Your phone suddenly shows “No service” or “SIM not registered” in a place where you normally have signal, and it does not come back after restarting.
  • You get a message about a SIM change or activation that you did not request.
  • You receive login alerts or password reset messages from your bank, email or social media that you did not start.
  • People say they received strange messages from you.
If your line goes dead without explanation, treat it as an emergency. Call your network from another phone immediately.

Ghana’s safety rule for SIM swaps

Under the Payment Systems and Services Act 2019, electronic money accounts are deactivated for a period (reported as two days) when a customer swaps or replaces a SIM, and can be reactivated once valid identification is presented. The rule exists to stop exactly this kind of fraud: it gives the real owner time to notice and react.

So if your mobile money suddenly stops working and you did not change your SIM, that lock-out is itself a red flag. Call your provider.

How to protect yourself

  • Never share one-time codes with anyone, ever. Fraudsters pretending to be MTN, Telecel or AT customer care often ask for them.
  • Guard your personal details. Think twice before posting your date of birth, Ghana Card or phone numbers publicly, and before filling in online forms that ask for them.
  • Set a SIM PIN. In your phone’s security settings you can lock the SIM itself, so a stolen SIM cannot be used in another phone without the code. (Write down the PUK code that came with your SIM first.)
  • Use app-based security where offered, not just SMS codes, for email and banking.
  • Turn on transaction alerts for your bank and wallet, and read them.
  • Keep your MoMo PIN unique and secret, so even codes alone are not enough.

If you think it is happening to you

  1. Call your network from another phone and report that your SIM may have been swapped. Ask them to block it.
  2. Call your mobile money provider and your bank to freeze your accounts.
  3. Change passwords for your email and banking, starting with email.
  4. Report it to the police and to the Cyber Security Authority on 292.
  5. Get a replacement SIM in person with your Ghana Card.
The fraudster needs your number, your details and a few hours. Your job is to make all three hard to get.

This guide was checked in October 2026. Menus and services change, so if something looks different on your phone, check with your provider.

Common questions

Can a SIM swap happen without me noticing?

The clearest sign is losing network service suddenly. If your phone shows no service where it normally works, act quickly instead of waiting for it to come back.

Does a SIM PIN stop SIM swap fraud?

A SIM PIN stops someone using your physical SIM in another phone. It does not stop a fraudster getting a new SIM issued for your number, so guarding your personal details still matters.

Why is my MoMo blocked after I replaced my SIM?

Ghana’s payment rules require e-money accounts to be deactivated for a period after a SIM swap or replacement, and reactivated with valid ID. It is a protection against fraud.

Who should I call first?

Your mobile network, to block the SIM, and your mobile money provider and bank, to freeze your accounts. Then report to the police and the Cyber Security Authority.

Sources