Three Pakistani nationals and a Ghanaian accomplice have conspired to defraud a fellow Ghanaian in a car purchase scam. The Ghanaian involved in the scheme, Shaibu Adjei, collaborated with the Pakistanis—identified as Adnan Ahmad and Abdul, with the third individual remaining unnamed—to deceive his close friend, Mr. David Ainoo.
Mr. David Ainoo, a businessman based in Accra and a former radio host at Beach FM in Sekondi/Takoradi, was introduced to the fraudulent scheme by Mr. Shaibu Adjei. Adjei, a former convict with a history of violent crime, informed Ainoo about a supposed opportunity to purchase a Toyota Land Cruiser on hire purchase, allowing payment over a two-year installment period.
Adjei, who served four years in remand for the murder of a 17-year-old SHS student in 2017, is currently employed as a security guard at the Verna Water Company in Kumasi. His criminal past was highlighted in a 2018 article on GhanaWeb, detailing the murder case and his subsequent trial.
On Adjei’s recommendation, Ainoo agreed to purchase a Toyota Land Cruiser with the registration number GW 2255-23 for $60,000. Adjei assured him that he had already purchased a vehicle from the same source, which he was using for Uber services. Ainoo was required to make an upfront payment of $7,200 (equivalent to GHC 90,000) as part of the agreement, with the remaining amount to be paid in monthly installments from March 9, 2023, to March 9, 2025.
However, the deal quickly turned sour. The vehicle began experiencing engine problems just two weeks after delivery, despite the contract’s one-month warranty. When Ainoo returned the car for repairs, the sellers refused to cover the costs, insisting that he pay for the repairs himself, with a promise to deduct the expense from the remaining balance. The repair costs amounted to GHC 59,000.
Following this, the Pakistanis and Adjei requested that Ainoo return the car, ostensibly to verify the repairs. Suspecting foul play, Ainoo installed a tracker in the vehicle and informed Adjei of this precaution. However, on February 12, 2023, the vehicle was taken without being returned, and the tracker was subsequently disconnected after Adjei disclosed its presence to the Pakistanis.
The fraudsters then demanded the remaining balance before they would release the car, a violation of the original agreement. Ainoo has since reported the matter to the police. It is believed that the culprits reside in the Weija White Cross area, where they claim to operate an office. However, they have since disappeared.
The documents for the transaction were signed under the name STAR DARUSSALAM COMPANY LIMITED, but following the removal of the car, the name was suspiciously changed to CHILTERN GHANA LTD, a nonexistent company supposedly located in East Legon.
The public is urged to be vigilant and report any unfamiliar Pakistani individuals in the Accra area or elsewhere to the Ghana Police Service or contact 0248860296.
Thank you for your cooperation.
