A student has been arraigned before the Dansoman Circuit Court for allegedly withdrawing a total of GH¢24,849 from the bank accounts of two GCB Bank customers through an ATM card swap scam.
The accused, identified as Regan Kwesi Egbe Addo, also known as Morgan Addo, is facing two counts of stealing in two separate cases. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges and is currently standing trial before the court.
According to a report by the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, outlined the circumstances surrounding the alleged offences during court proceedings.
In the first case, the prosecution alleged that on September 17, 2025, Addo posed as a staff member of GCB Bank at the Ministries ATM in Accra. The court heard that he approached a customer who was attempting to use the ATM and offered unsolicited assistance under the guise of helping with a transaction.
Chief Inspector Wonder told the court that Addo stood behind the complainant while he entered his personal identification number (PIN). After observing the PIN, the accused allegedly claimed the ATM card’s chip was dirty and requested to clean it. During this process, the prosecution said Addo swapped the complainant’s ATM card with another card without the customer’s knowledge.
The court was informed that Addo later used the swapped ATM card to withdraw GH¢14,949 from the complainant’s bank account without consent. These withdrawals were reportedly carried out at various locations in Accra, including the Kempinski Hotel area and the Airport City Shell Fuel Station.
Investigations revealed that closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage obtained from GCB Bank at the Ministries branch helped police trace the movements of both the complainant and the accused, linking Addo to the alleged withdrawals.
In the second case, Addo is accused of using a similar method to steal GH¢9,900 from the account of another GCB Bank customer on December 23, 2025, at about 4:40 pm. The complainant in this case is said to be a female customer and staff member of the Ministry of Fisheries.
According to the prosecution, the second complainant reported the incident to the police at Ministries after discovering that Addo had been arrested and placed on a police wanted list in connection with multiple alleged ATM card thefts within the Accra Central Division.
The prosecution told the court that the similarities in the modus operandi used in both cases pointed to a deliberate and coordinated scheme to defraud unsuspecting bank customers through ATM card swaps.
Following submissions from both sides, the court admitted Addo to bail. The trial judge directed the accused to appear before the court again on March 11, 2026, for a case management conference. The court also ordered the prosecution to file all witness statements and disclosures ahead of the next hearing.
The case adds to growing concerns about ATM-related fraud in Ghana, with law enforcement agencies repeatedly warning the public to be vigilant and avoid accepting assistance from strangers at ATM points.
Police have advised bank customers to shield their PINs while making transactions and to immediately report any suspicious activity or unauthorised withdrawals to their banks and the police.
As the trial proceeds, the court is expected to determine Addo’s culpability based on the evidence to be presented by the prosecution and any defence that may be mounted by the accused.
