The proliferation of smart phone brands has given rise to black marketing of mobile phones in major cities of the country.
This fruition has boosted the businesses for ‘goro’ boys, as they have stepped up their street sales from the pavements of busy areas such as Circle and Tip-toe lane to traffic jams.
Fraudsters
It is now common to see mobile phone vendors joining plantain chips and T. Roll sellers to ply smart phones to drivers with fraudulent intentions.
The expansion of these phone industries is partly attributed to the global advent of social media platforms such as viber, whatsapp, badoo, instagram and the likes.
These smart phones are featured with large memory base, high mega pixel cameras for sharper image effects, touch screens, email and Skype application among others.
However, smart phones attract high costs due to their complex nature and can therefore, not be patronized by most people in the middle and lower class ranges, who wish to join the extensive social connect world.
For example, an original iPhone 5 can be priced at GH2000, while a Samsung galaxyS4 may go for GH1500 or more, and an Infinix Zero for GH1, 099, depending on type and shop obtained.
Extra Vigilance
However, the police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Accra has cautioned Ghanaians to be extra vigilant when purchasing mobile phones form unrecognized sources, with strict emphasis on the evasion of phone vendors.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Joseph Darkwah, revealed that the majority of such victims were the youth, and blamed it partially on naivety and exploration.
Briefing the paper on the fraudulent activities employed by these ‘goro boys’ he said that their modus operandi was to refurbish sub-standard, fake, stolen or faulty old phones with new housing sets and batteries in order to give them a new look.
“Often times, such phones do not last long after purchase due to their low quality. You may exchange your original device for a seemingly newer one at a cheaper price, and later realize that your initial phone was of a better quality. Sometimes it turns out that the phone is even a stolen phone,” he said.
Swapping
“If you are not too smart to notice, you may receive a tap on your shoulder and in your attempt to find out the reason, your attention shifts from them for a brief moment, giving them enough time to swap the phones when packaging,” he said.
Stressing on the benefits of purchasing mobile phones from recognized or known sources, he mentioned that such gadgets often came with warranty, originality, quality and professional phone servicing.
Business Compromise
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a phone vendor at Kwame Nkrumah Circle alleged that the business was a compromise to low class earners who wanted to enjoy social platforms but could not afford the cost of original phones.
A pure water seller, who spoke to the reporter, revealed that such ‘goro boys’ did not have fixed locations, making it difficult for them to be tracked after making fraudulent sales.
“Some people do come back to look for those who sold the phones to them due to dissatisfaction or faultiness but are disappointed to realize they have already eloped to unknown places,” she said.
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