Police warn against Europe-Africa frauds

The police on Monday warned members of the general public, especially pharmaceutical companies to be wary of a humanitarian aid fraud being perpetuated by a group operating between Europe and Africa.

A statement from the Public Relations Directorate signed by the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr David S. Eklu in Accra, quoted a report from Interpol-Ghana, as saying the group operate under the disguise of a Catholic Mission Society.

It goes by contacting Pharmaceutical companies and requesting for humanitarian aid for Sierra Leone.

The statement said the group's mode of operation includes enclosing a cheque as initial payment for the pharmaceuticals they solicit and once a favourable response is received from the company in question, group requests that the invoice and freight shipping documents be faxed to them.

However, when they receive confirmation that the shipment is in Sierra Leone, they stop payment on the cheque sent as initial payment.

The statement mentioned a Catholic Mission in London and a Christian Youth Organisation in Freetown Sierra Leone as being involved.

The police, therefore, called on the general public and especially Pharmaceutical companies, to be on the alert and to report any such activity to the commissioner CID at the Police Headquarters.