PARLIAMENT DEMANDS URGENT ACTION AS MOBILE MONEY SCAM THREATENS CITIZENS

By Desmond Isaac Macauley
Parliament has raised serious concerns over the growing wave of financial fraud linked to mobile money services, with Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas calling for urgent action to protect citizens from scammers.
Addressing the House on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, Speaker Thomas said scammers appear to be increasingly using the Orange network to carry out fraudulent transactions. He called on the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Technology to provide a detailed explanation and a clear plan to tackle the problem.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Technology Salima Bah confirmed that cyber enabled financial fraud is rapidly increasing in Sierra Leone. She said criminals are impersonating ministers, MPs and other public figures through fake WhatsApp and social media accounts to solicit money, offer fake jobs, promote fraudulent investments and make urgent financial requests.
The Minister also warned about fake customer care agents, bogus promotions, phishing links, fraudulent mobile money requests and messages falsely claiming that relatives need emergency assistance. She urged citizens to verify requests before sending money or sharing personal information.
Opposition Leader Abdul Kargbo described the situation as a serious threat to the financial security of citizens and public trust in digital financial services. He called for stronger safeguards by mobile network operators and coordinated action by Government and regulators.
Majority Leader Matthew Nyuma called for urgent oversight hearings involving regulators and mobile network operators, saying many citizens have lost faith in digital financial services because of fraud.He also called for investigations to identify and prosecute the individuals behind the scams.
Parliament has tasked the Parliamentary Committee on Communications, Innovation and Technology to investigate the growing mobile money fraud and submit a detailed report within one month. The National Telecommunications Authority also said it would intensify efforts to identify fraudsters, strength.