Freetown, 5th August 2026 — Parliament has raised a red alert over the alarming surge in mobile money scams, with Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, demanding urgent action from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Technology to curb the growing threat.
Addressing lawmakers on Tuesday, 4th August 2026, Speaker Thomas warned that fraudsters appear to be exploiting the Orange mobile network to target unsuspecting citizens. He called on Minister Salima Bah to present a detailed strategy to Parliament and the public, outlining measures to end the problem.
Minister Bah confirmed that cyber-enabled financial fraud is escalating rapidly, with criminals impersonating ministers, MPs, and other public figures to trick citizens into sending money. She explained that fraudsters are creating fake WhatsApp and social media accounts to solicit funds, offer bogus job opportunities, promote fraudulent investments, and pressure victims into making urgent transfers. Other schemes include fake customer care agents, phishing links, and fraudulent mobile money requests.
“This problem is not unique to Sierra Leone,” Minister Bah noted, citing similar cases of WhatsApp hijacking and impersonation reported in Ghana, South Africa, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the US. She outlined government’s three-pronged plan: educating citizens to recognize scams, strengthening consumer protection systems, and improving investigation and enforcement to ensure perpetrators are prosecuted.
Central to the plan is public awareness. Working with NaTCA, the National Cyber Security Coordinating Center, and mobile operators, the Ministry has rolled out nationwide campaigns across radio, TV, newspapers, social media, and community platforms. Mobile operators have also introduced “pause and verify” messaging, urging customers not to share passwords or send money based solely on WhatsApp messages. “No technological solution can eliminate fraud if citizens are unaware,” Bah stressed.
Opposition Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo warned that the scams are eroding public trust and threatening financial stability. He urged mobile operators to strengthen user protection and shared his own experience of a suspicious money request. Majority Leader Hon. Matthew Nyuma called for immediate oversight hearings with regulators and operators, while Opposition Whip Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara raised concerns about unclaimed balances, taxation of digital transactions, and access to funds when account holders die.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Communications, Hon. Boston Munda, revealed that his committee had conducted an oversight tour nationwide and gathered public views on poor mobile service. He promised a detailed report to Parliament soon.
NaTCA Director General Amara Briwa assured MPs that the Authority is intensifying efforts to combat fraud, including a new phase of SIM card registration, drive tests to monitor network quality, and fines for operators failing to address service issues. He confirmed that NaTCA has been working with police to arrest fraudsters and pledged stronger enforcement.
The House resolved to mandate the Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation to investigate the matter and submit a comprehensive report within one month.
