The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has raised an alarm about fraudulent links circulating on social media, falsely claiming to offer cash prizes or giveaways from presidential candidates.

These deceptive schemes lure users into sharing personal information in exchange for answering simple questions.

The CSA has warned that these links are crafted by cybercriminals with the intention of harvesting sensitive data for future attacks.

It urged the public to ignore such messages and refrain from sharing any personal details.

It also advised individuals to verify the sender of any suspicious messages and avoid clicking on unsolicited links, especially those associated with political parties or candidates.

The CSA also encouraged individuals to report any incidents of cybercrime to help combat these fraudulent activities.In a flyer the CSA noted "The public is hereby warned of malicious links in circulation on social media requesting users to answer simple questions and provide personal information to receive funds/giveaways from political candidates. These links have solely been set up to harvest the data of citizens for further attacks”.

Earlier this year, the CSA reported 194 online fraud cases between January and March 2024, resulting in financial losses totaling approximately GH¢2,404,161.

The CSA explains that cybercriminals often create fake online shops or impersonate legitimate businesses on social media, offering goods at unrealistically low prices.

They also generate fraudulent business profiles or listings on platforms like Google Maps, using search engine optimization techniques to manipulate search results and divert inquiries to their own contact information instead of legitimate businesses.

Once victims engage and make payments typically to mobile money wallets the scammers block further communication, and the promised goods are never delivered.

Additionally, malicious actors often send unsolicited emails or messages, claiming to be from a romantic interest or a company offering seasonal deals, further deceiving the public.

“These messages contain links or attachments that when clicked, install malicious software (malware), or steal personal information,” the Cyber Security Authority.

The Authority therefore cautioned the general public to be aware of unsolicited messages offering exciting or “too good to be true” deals.

“Use a reputable online marketplace or retailer when purchasing items or gifts. Consider reviews and customer feedback before making an online purchase. Search engines can be manipulated to show misleading results. Check on the official website or with reliable sources to validate the contact details of the shop you are searching for.