By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 13th August 2026 — Sierra Leone’s National Cybersecurity Coordinator, Mariama Yormah, has urged citizens to exercise greater caution online and adopt safer digital practices to ‘stop, think and verify’ information as the country’s growing reliance on digital services exposes more people to online scam. Yormah made the call during the Government Weekly Press Conference at the Miatta Civic Centre, on 11th August 2026, where she warned that criminals are increasingly exploiting digital platforms to steal money, personal information and access to online accounts.
She said Sierra Leone’s digital transformation has expanded access to services, such as online banking, mobile money, electronic payments and passport applications, but the increased use of these platforms has also created opportunities for cybercriminals.
Yormah identified mobile money fraud, WhatsApp account takeovers, phishing, SIM-swap fraud, online investment scams and social engineering among the common threats facing citizens.
She warned that fraudulent employment offers are increasingly being used to target unsuspecting people. Scammers may claim that victims have been selected for jobs or other opportunities before demanding upfront payments to facilitate the process.
Yormah urged citizens to be suspicious of unsolicited offers that require payment before a promised service or opportunity is delivered.
She also cautioned against WhatsApp account takeovers, explaining that criminals can use compromised accounts to impersonate victims and solicit money from their contacts, often claiming to be stranded or facing an emergency.
According to Yormah, scammers may request relatively small amounts from several people, allowing them to accumulate significant sums while making the fraud less obvious.
She further warned about phishing attacks, in which criminals use deceptive messages, emails and links to trick people into surrendering passwords, financial information or access to their social media accounts.
Similar tactics, she said, are used through fake social media notifications claiming that an account has been suspended or locked and asking users to click a link to restore it.
Yormah also highlighted SIM-swap fraud, in which criminals collect personal information about victims and impersonate them when requesting replacement SIM cards from telecommunications providers.
She stressed the importance of stronger verification procedures and closer cooperation between cybersecurity institutions, telecommunications companies, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders.
The coordinator also warned citizens about online investment and Ponzi schemes that promise unrealistic returns, sometimes as high as 100 or 200 per cent. She explained that fraudsters may initially pay some participants to create an appearance of legitimacy before attracting more investors and eventually disappearing with their money.
Yormah said social engineering remains one of the most effective tools used by cybercriminals because it exploits human emotions, including fear, sympathy, excitement, trust and urgency.
She cited online relationship scams, in which criminals develop emotional or romantic relationships with victims before using private photographs or information to blackmail them.
Against these threats, Yormah urged citizens to follow a simple rule: “Stop, Think and Verify” information.
She advised people to pause whenever a message or request creates an unusual sense of urgency or pressure and to independently verify the information before taking action.
Using a compromised WhatsApp account as an example, she said a scammer could impersonate a relative and request money for an emergency. Instead of immediately sending the money, she advised recipients to contact the person through another communication channel to confirm the request.
Yormah also urged victims to report suspected cybercrime promptly and preserve evidence that could support investigations. She advised citizens to keep screenshots of suspicious messages, telephone numbers, mobile money account details and other relevant information.
She said prompt reporting is particularly important because stolen funds can be transferred or withdrawn quickly.
Yormah stressed that combating cybercrime requires a coordinated national response involving government institutions, law enforcement agencies, telecommunications companies, financial institutions, technology platforms and citizens.
As Sierra Leone continues its digital transformation, she said cybersecurity awareness must remain central to the country’s development efforts.
She encouraged citizens to protect their personal information, avoid sharing sensitive details, question suspicious requests and verify the identity of anyone seeking money or confidential information online.
Her message was clear: “Stop, Think and Verify” information.
