The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has cautioned customers to be wary of fraudsters demanding payments through mobile money accounts in exchange for services such as meter installation, replacement, or debt cancellation.
The warning follows several complaints from customers who reported receiving phone calls and social media messages from unknown individuals impersonating ECG officials and instructing them to send money before their requests could be processed.
Ing. George Amoah, General Manager of ECG in the Ashanti West Region, stressed that the company has no mobile money account and that all payments must be made through the ECG PowerApp or shortcode *226#.
He revealed that fraudsters often pose as District Managers, accountants, or technical officers to lure unsuspecting customers.
“Just last week, some fraudsters asked a customer who had applied for a meter to pay GH¢900 for installation. After payment, they demanded an additional GH¢500. In another case at Breman, an elderly man paid GH¢2,000 and was later ignored after the fraudsters stopped picking his calls,” Ing. Amoah disclosed.
Adding that ECG is working with security agencies to track down the perpetrators.
The fraudulent activities have been reported in areas such as Adum, Kokoben, Suame, Danyame, Abuakwa, and Ahinsan, with fraudsters using numbers including 0531807230, 0508790801, 0543803302, and 0532752541.
Ing. Amoah explained that applying for a meter requires customers to complete wiring with certified electricians, submit forms to ECG, and pay a GH¢100 registration fee.
Once processed, ECG sends an official SMS with a unique code and quotation for payment, which must be initiated by the customer.
He also reminded the public that the replacement of faulty meters is free, warning:
“No customer should pay money to any individual who demands payment for a replacement.”
Addressing concerns about meter shortages, Ing. Amoah said the ongoing Loss Reduction Project has boosted availability, allowing ECG to meet service demands and replace faulty meters efficiently.
He appealed to customers to make payments only through ECG’s official platforms and to report fraudulent calls immediately.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
