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Dating websites are very popular however Ghana scams are increasing due to the anonymity of the site allowing criminals in Ghana to take advantage of unsuspecting singles by forging fraudulent relationships and attempting to get money out of them.

The majority of people who start an online relationship with a Ghanaian originally think they are corresponding with someone in the United States. You will meet Ghanaians on all of the major dating websites and many of the more specialized chat rooms.

Only after a relationship is formed does the correspondent advise that they are from Ghana.

Relationships can last anywhere from 1-3 months before the Ghanaian correspondents will ask you for money.

There are several generic stories that are used: death or illness in the family, need to escape an abusive situation, visa and travel expenses, or arrest by customs officials for smuggling gold.

Regardless of the reason for the request, people are usually so involved in the relationship that they send money on the first request. At this point, relationships have usually advanced from email to phone calls. Often, you will have spoken with the Ghanaian's "relatives" and/or visa broker and feel like a part of the family.

Some people start to question the relationship after they receive two or three requests for money and no visit.

The majority of Ghanaian correspondents send pictures of themselves along with scanned copies of altered Ghanaian passports and U.S. visas to assure people of their existence and their intent to visit. Pictures are generally headshots taken from websites (the most notable coming from a Brazilian transsexual website).

The next and most lucrative step in Ghana scams come when the Ghanaian correspondent supposidly leaves Ghana but is picked up by Ghanaian, British or Dutch immigration authorities.

Usually, the victim receives an email or phone call from their friend in prison asking for more money to bribe the officials to facilitate their release. There have been several cases where the "customs officer" has called the victim directly.

Since Ghana is known as the Gold Coast most Ghanaian correspondents are able to convince their victim friend that they carry their inheritance in the form of gold bars that they will smuggle out of Ghana to start their new life with the victim.

Many believe this and have parted with as much as $10,000 in the hope of receiving millions of dollars worth of gold when their "friend" arrives to be with them.

As long as Internet chat rooms and dating services are in demand in the U.S. this scam will flourish.

Signs of Ghana Scams

• You met a friend/fiancé online

• You've never met face to face

• They stated love at warp speed

• Your friend/fiancé is plagued with medical problems requiring loans from you

• You are promised repayment upon the inheritance of alluvial gold or gems

• You've sent large sums for visas or plane tickets but the person cannot seem to make it out of Ghana

• When your friend does try to leave the country, h/she is detained by immigration officials demanding payment or bribes

• Your friend consistently uses lower case "i's" and/or grammar not in-keeping with their supposed life station or education level

Advice for Ghana Scams

Long distance love + request for money = scam!

• Don't send money to people you haven't actually met

• If you do lose money, your chances of getting it back are essentially nil

• You can report the scam on www.ic3.gov and might also consider alerting the dating website on which the scammer was encountered.

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