NAIROBI, Kenya -Almost one in two mobile phone users in Kenya were targeted by scammers last year, placing the country among the most exposed to mobile fraud in sub-Saharan Africa, a new World Bank survey shows.
The report, which studied 10 countries in the region, ranked Kenya second only to Tanzania, where 52.5 per cent of users said they had received fraudulent calls or text messages.
In Kenya, 49 per cent of mobile users reported at least one scam attempt, typically disguised as financial requests, fake prize notifications, mobile money reversals, or bogus government alerts.
Although nearly half of those targeted ignored the attempts, two per cent admitted to losing money to fraudsters.
The remaining 51 per cent of respondents said they had not encountered any scam activity during the year.
Other countries surveyed included Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Cameroon, Gabon, Lesotho, and Senegal.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has the mandate to address consumer complaints linked to fraudulent mobile activity, but the growing sophistication of scammers continues to present a challenge.
In response, mobile operators are rolling out new technologies to protect users.
In May, Airtel Kenya launched an artificial intelligence system that flags suspicious messages in real time, labelling them as “Suspected SPAM” without reading their content.
The tool analyses more than 250 indicators, including sender behaviour, message frequency, and geographical targeting.
The World Bank has also urged greater investment in digital literacy, particularly for women and marginalised groups, who often face higher risks.
The report recommends confidential and accessible reporting channels to encourage victims to seek help without fear of stigma.
Kenya is among countries covered by Operation Maliza Uhalifu and other government-backed digital safety campaigns, but experts warn that the fight against mobile fraud requires both technological safeguards and informed users.
