SOME 76 Ghanaians have been rescued in Nigeria after being caught up in a fraudulent job recruitment scheme, it was reported today.

Ghanaian police said those rescued were mostly men who had been duped with promises of lucrative contracts with top foreign football teams, job placements abroad or help with visa processing.

Once they arrived, their travel documents and mobile phones were seized and they were forced into overcrowded rooms under poor conditions, according to the police.

The victims of the fraud were also forced to contact families to get them to send the equivalent of around £727 to pay for non-existent training or to cover facilitation fees.

The victim’s mobile contact lists were also used to scam friends and relatives.

Seven Ghanaians have reportedly been arrested in connection with the trafficking.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) head Lydia Yaako Donkor told a press briefing that the rescue operation had been carried out jointly with Interpol and Nigerian law enforcement agencies. 

The rescues reportedly took place in a number of Nigerian states between May 19 and June 27. The victims have yet to be reunited with their families in Ghana.

Ms Donkor warned families about the need to verify lucrative job offers and educational opportunities before committing to them.

She said the victims of the scam were usually instructed to travel by road to an unfamiliar country before being transferred to “holding camps,” which amount to substandard rented rooms shared with up to 40 people.

The victims are then reportedly coerced into recruiting others, deceiving even their own families and friends, according to Ms Donkor.

She said: “The psychological and economic harm caused to these victims and their families is devastating,” adding that in many cases, the victims were “so malnourished and psychologically affected” that they were unable to return to their normal lives.

Ghanaian authorities say efforts are continuing to arrest others involved in the scam.