# Cybersecurity extortion and rising digital fraud in Sri L/GH

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cybersecurity-extortion-warnings-in-sri-lanka-and-ghana
> Updated: 2026-09-02T08:26:58.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 3.

Cybersecurity authorities in Sri Lanka and Ghana have issued warnings regarding the rise of social media extortion and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. In Sri Lanka, the Computer Emergency Readiness Team (Sri Lanka CERT) warned of blackmailers using fake profiles to obtain compromising material for financial gain, urging citizens to report incidents to the Sri Lanka Police Cybercrime Division.

In Ghana, officials highlighted legal protections under the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), and recommended tools like StopNCII.org to prevent the spread of intimate content. Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority (CSA) launched a public awareness campaign featuring a 292 hotline to report various cyber threats, including mobile money fraud and digital extortion. Victims are advised not to pay perpetrators and to preserve digital evidence such as screenshots and usernames.

Expanding its efforts, the CSA announced the 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month for October, themed ‘Securing Ghana’s Digital Finance Ecosystem: Building Trust Through Collaboration and Cyber Resilience’. This follows reports from CSA Director-General Divine Selase Agbeti regarding a significant surge in digital crime. Fraud cases across banks and payment service providers rose from 16,733 in 2024 to 24,778 in 2025, representing a 48% increase. Between January and July 2026, 3,876 cybersecurity incidents were recorded in Ghana, with online fraud accounting for approximately 47% of those cases.

## Claims

- The 2026 National Cyber Security Awareness Month is scheduled to run from October 1 to October 31. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The CSA recorded 3,876 cybersecurity incidents between January and July 2026. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Online fraud accounted for approximately 47% of reported cybersecurity incidents between January and July 2026. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Reported fraud cases across banks, specialized deposit-taking institutions, and payment service providers rose 48% from 16,733 in 2024 to 24,778 in 2025. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Electronic fraud incidents within the payment service provider segment increased by 54% between 2024 and 2025. (single source)
- The CSA urged financial institutions and merchants to only procure cybersecurity services from licensed or accredited providers. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-02: Ghana launches cybersecurity awareness month amid rising digital fraud

Ghana's Cyber Security Authority has launched a month-long awareness campaign to combat a surge in digital fraud, noting a 48% increase in reported financial sector fraud cases between 2024 and 2025.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ghana-launches-cybersecurity-awareness-month-amid-rising-digital-fraud

### 2026-08-14: Ghana Cyber Security Authority launches 292 hotline for fraud reporting

Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority urges the public to report mobile money fraud and digital blackmail via its 292 hotline, warning that stolen funds are often unrecoverable.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ghana-cyber-security-authority-launches-292-hotline-for-fraud-reporting

### 2026-08-08: Cybersecurity authorities warn of rising social media extortion

Cybersecurity authorities in Sri Lanka and Ghana are warning against rising social media extortion and sextortion, promoting reporting and tools like StopNCII.org to combat digital blackmail.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cybersecurity-authorities-warn-of-rising-social-media-extortion

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Cite as: Cybersecurity extortion and rising digital fraud in Sri L/GH. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cybersecurity-extortion-warnings-in-sri-lanka-and-ghana