Anyone here from Ghana?

Question

We recieved an order on our online store today, the billing address is in the US, and the shipping address is in Ghana, specifically

box os148
accra, 00233
GH, Ghana

The credit card appears valid, but it could be identity theft. I'm wary of this order, first because of it's size, it's the largest order we've ever had. Second, we've never had a US customer before (we're canadian), let alone a customer from Ghana.

Can anyone verify this as a legit address for me? that would go a long way to smooth my suspitions.

Answer 1

It might be an address in Ghana but it's not properly formatted. A Canadian equivalent would be

PO Box 1234
Edmonton
0011
CA
Canada

Individuals don't have postal addresses in Ghana (there is no mail delivery like in Canada) and mail is usually delivered to a Post Office.

00233 is the international dialling code for Ghana, there are no zip codes.

GH is the country code (just like IT for Italy, CA for Canada etc). Just as you wouldn't put IT or CA on a letter to Italy or Canada you wouldn't have GH as part of the address.

It's common practice to include 'West Africa' in the postal address before 'Ghana'.

A properly formatted Ghanian postal address would be something like...

John Doe
First Church of Accra
Post Office CT123
Cantonments
Accra
West Africa
Ghana

Box OS148 probably does exist in Accra (as an address care of Osu Post Office) and if you did ship to the address it stands a good chance of arriving.

I'd be wary - if someone places a large order you'd expect they'd get their address right. You might want to wait until the bank transaction has been closed before sending the order. Closed is very different to Cleared - cleared simply means the funds have arrived in your account but if it subsequently turns out to be fraudulent or there's something amiss the bank can take the funds back. Closed comes some time later and your money is safe even if it was a fraudulent transaction (unless there's a court ruling to the contrary).

Try and obtain verification from the billing address that everything is in order or tell the customer you only ship to billing addresses within Canada and the US. You might want to ask for proof of ID, get the to fax or e-mail something. If it turns out the person is Nigerian, Ivorian, Liberian or Zimbabwean then I'd be very suspicious - a lot of people from these countries use Ghana as a base for their scams.

Answer 2

well it looks good but then again u never know....if there was an emaill add or telephone number given u could fynd out..........i would if i were u.........but in all honesty, it really does look authentic