In October 2024, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) announced that it has deployed an SMS recording and monitoring system across all mobile networks in Tanzania to record and monitor all SMS traffic, with the aim of identifying routes used for online fraud.
Felician Mwesigwa, Director of Industry Affairs at TCRA, made the announcement at a media briefing in Dar es Salaam. The system enables the regulator to gain a more comprehensive understanding of SMS traffic dynamics, particularly facilitating the identification of fraud patterns. This move directly targets the growing problem of SMS fraud in Tanzania, especially mobile money fraud.
According to the latest quarterly report from TCRA, the Rukwa and Morogoro regions together account for one-third of all mobile SMS fraud attempts nationwide. In the Rukwa region, the Sumbawanga district is the most affected (5,198 cases), while in the Morogoro region, the Ifakara district is the most prominent (3,922 cases). They are followed by Mbeya (1,112 cases), Dar es Salaam (959 cases) and Arusha (351 cases).
TCRA pointed out that the registration of SIM cards through illegal channels by criminals is the main reason for the worsening fraud problem. Although overall fraud cases have decreased by 28% compared with the previous reporting period, the above two regions have remained at high levels throughout the year. TCRA stated that it will continue to intensify its crackdown efforts to make it more difficult for criminals to obtain SIM cards. Mobile network operators have also adopted technical means to detect and block fraudulent SMS messages and launch investigations into those involved.
