By Mo Hamad Kargbo
The Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Salima Bah, has assured Parliament that the Government is intensifying efforts to combat mobile money fraud and cyber-enabled financial crimes across Sierra Leone.
The Minister made the statement on Tuesday, 4th August 2026, after she, the National Communications Authority (NaTCA), and mobile network operators were summoned by Parliament to explain the increasing cases of mobile money scams, WhatsApp account hijacking, and online impersonation targeting citizens.
Opening the session, Speaker of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, said lawmakers were deeply concerned about the rising cases of scam activities.
“This House wants a proper explanation for the coincidence so that we can think about taking the necessary action,” the Speaker stated.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Salima Bah described cyber-enabled financial fraud as a serious national challenge that threatens public confidence in Sierra Leone’s expanding digital economy.
She said the Government’s digital transformation agenda under President Julius Maada Bio has expanded broadband connectivity, strengthened digital infrastructure, and promoted financial inclusion through mobile money services. However, she noted that the rapid growth of digital platforms has also created opportunities for criminals to exploit unsuspecting citizens.
According to the Minister, most reported fraud cases in Sierra Leone are not caused by advanced hacking techniques but rather through the manipulation of human trust and deception.
She explained that criminals often gain access to WhatsApp accounts by tricking victims into sharing verification codes, after which they impersonate account owners and request financial assistance from their contacts.
The Minister further revealed that fraudsters are increasingly creating fake social media and WhatsApp accounts using the names and photographs of ministers, Members of Parliament, senior government officials, business executives, and religious leaders to deceive members of the public.
She also highlighted other common scams, including fake customer care representatives, fraudulent promotions, phishing links, and false emergency requests for financial assistance.
Salima Bah told Parliament that cyber-enabled financial fraud is a global challenge affecting countries including Ghana, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States, stressing that Sierra Leone is experiencing a problem faced worldwide.
To address the threat, she said the Government has adopted a three-pronged strategy focused on public education, strengthening consumer protection systems, and improving criminal investigations and law enforcement.
She disclosed that the Ministry, in collaboration with NatCA, the National Cyber Security Coordinating Centre, and mobile network operators, has intensified nationwide awareness campaigns through radio, television, newspapers, social media, SMS alerts, and community outreach programmes.
The Minister urged citizens not to transfer money or disclose sensitive information based solely on WhatsApp messages, text messages, or social media requests without first verifying the identity of the sender through a direct phone call or other trusted means.
She explained that victims can report fraud through customer care centres, mobile applications, SMS platforms, and physical service centres, allowing operators to investigate complaints and, where possible, freeze suspicious mobile money wallets before funds are withdrawn.
However, Salima Bah cautioned that recovery becomes difficult once fraudsters quickly withdraw or transfer stolen funds through multiple transactions, making immediate reporting critical.
Highlighting the role of mobile network operators in supporting investigations, she disclosed that Orange Sierra Leone has received approximately 390 mobile money fraud complaints this year.
She added that Orange has responded to more than 18,000 requests from the Sierra Leone Police for Know Your Customer (KYC) information to support various criminal investigations, although she clarified that not all requests were related to cyber fraud.
The Minister said the Government remains committed to completing the nationwide SIM registration and National Identification Number (NIN) linkage exercise, describing it as a key measure to improve accountability and assist law enforcement agencies in identifying individuals involved in criminal activities.
She concluded by assuring Parliament that her Ministry would continue working with lawmakers, regulators, security agencies, mobile network operators, and financial institutions to strengthen Sierra Leone’s legal, regulatory, and institutional framework against cyber-enabled financial crimes.
“I respectfully commend this ministerial statement to the House,” Minister Bah said.
