Some persons believed to be fake Nigerian mobile phone dealers have invaded the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis, duping the unsuspecting public of their phones and cash.
“They invaded our park about five months ago selling fake phones to the unsuspecting public, and we have tried to drive them away but our attempts are proving futile. This is what is happening here of late”. Operations manager at the Kojokrom Lorry Park in Takoradi, Nana Ansah told Citi News.
The trap
Mr. Ansah said “they are found at corners and open spaces around the Takoradi Market Circle but are mostly seen around the Kojokrom Lorry Park.
They hold supposedly new mobile phones which they call on the public to swap with their used ones.
After asking their victim’s to pay between GH150 and Gh500 to swap for a new, luck will certainly allude you because, either the new one you receive has a shorter lifespan than your old phone or colleague tricksters standing by will by every means steal back the working one they will give you.
Victims Assaulted
Victims who return to complain of the quality of phones sold to them are subjected to physical assault.
Mr. Ansah who was worried that the Kojokrom Lorry Park is becoming the hub of this mobile phone swapping spree in Takoradi told Citi News that “just this morning they were beating some students from the Takoradi Technical School.”
“One of these Nigerians during the transaction came from nowhere and subjected the students to physical assault. In the process the Nigerians called Police officers who rather came to cause the arrest of these students,” he narrated.
Alleged connivance with Police
Mr. Ansah said “what we have learnt is that often when there is a scuffle between these fake Nigerian phone dealers and their victims, they get assistance from some Police officers. They will always call the Police first to cause the arrest of the victims.”
He alleged that “I can say emphatically that, some of the Police officers have connived with these people. And we have given a caution that any Police man we see transacting business with these people will be captured on camera and handed over to their authorities.”
In the meantime “trotro” drivers who spoke to Citi News recounted the many times they had to stand in for the victims.
They have vowed to deal with any Nigerian who walks around the Kojokrom Lorry Park to conduct such crafty deals while an official complaint has been lodged with the Takoradi Market Circle Police to cramp down on them.
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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana