By Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has recorded a 19 percent drop in mobile money fraud attempts between March and June this year, a development analysts say reflects growing public awareness, improved regulatory enforcement, and a tightening of internal controls among some mobile network operators.
The latest performance report by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) shows that reported fraud cases fell from 17,152 in March to 13,837 in June. The decline is largely credited to the national Sitapeliki campaign, which aims to empower mobile users to detect and report suspicious activity, alongside digital reforms that have made it easier to flag and trace fraudulent transactions.
This reduction comes at a time when mobile money remains a cornerstone of financial inclusion in Tanzania, facilitating everything from retail payments and utility bills to cross-border remittances. As the digital economy grows, analysts argue that user trust is a non-negotiable foundation, and the latest data may signal a turning point in consumer confidence.
According to the TCRA, three operators—Airtel, TTCL, and Yas—made significant headway in curbing fraud attempts. Airtel’s reported cases dropped by 56 percent from 5,876 in March to 2,595 in June, while TTCL recorded a 58 percent decline from 3,925 to 1,658. Yas posted a marginal drop of 0.2 percent, from 2,484 to 2,478. The data suggests that targeted security measures and proactive customer communication can yield substantial results.
However, not all players in the sector fared well. Vodacom saw its reported fraud cases rise by 34 percent—from 3,143 in March to 4,224 in June—while Halotel experienced a significant increase from 1,724 to 2,882. The contrasting trends suggest variations in the effectiveness of fraud detection systems and customer awareness campaigns among operators. It also raises important questions about internal monitoring and the readiness of telcos to adapt to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Regionally, the burden of mobile fraud is unevenly distributed. Rukwa led with 4,353 reported cases, followed by Morogoro (4,285), Dar es Salaam (1,152), and Mbeya (803). These figures indicate that while urban centres face a considerable share of fraud, rural and peri-urban areas are increasingly targeted—possibly due to lower levels of digital literacy and limited access to consumer education.
Stakeholders have acknowledged the improvements but remain cautious. Digital finance advocate Said Maulid said that while the current SMS-based reporting mechanism is useful, there is a need to simplify the process further. “The system must allow immediate reporting at the moment a user receives a suspicious message,” he said, pointing to the importance of integrating fraud reporting into mobile applications and USSD platforms.
The impact of recent anti-fraud initiatives is also reflected in broader financial crime data. The 2024 national crime report by the police shows that losses from digital fraud dropped from Sh5.06 billion in 2023 to Sh5.32 billion in 2024. Though the reduction is modest, experts argue it represents a meaningful shift in the trend and suggests that fraud prevention strategies are starting to bite.
ICT analyst Anania Kapala sees the development as a boost to the digital economy. “When people feel their money is safe, they are more willing to adopt digital platforms,” he said, adding that digital wallets offer inherent security advantages over carrying physical cash. However, he also emphasized that broader adoption hinges on convenience and affordability. “Transaction fees and system downtimes still discourage frequent digital payments, especially in low-income segments.”
Kapala advised mobile users to take personal precautions, including regularly updating their PINs and double-checking recipient details before making payments. “Fraudsters operate on speed and user complacency. Changing your PIN regularly is a simple yet effective defence,” he said.
As Tanzania races towards a cash-lite economy, the ongoing battle against mobile money fraud is shaping up to be one of the most decisive factors. Experts agree that while the recent drop in cases is promising, sustaining this momentum will require continuous investment in cybersecurity, user education, and inter-agency collaboration. Without it, the digital economy’s full potential may remain out of reach.
