By The Arusha News Reporter
Rogue and unsolicited messages, apparently from criminals asking to be sent money via mobile phones, are still a big problem in Tanzania, despite the fact that all subscribers are registered and could be easily tracked by authorities.
This reporter received a message last week allegedly from phone number 0627 829 817 with a message in broken Kiswahili saying: “iyo ela itume kwenye iyo namba ya tigo 0776597314 jina BOAZ MGOGO.” Many people, including this reporter, have been ignoring such messages because even reporting them to authorities yields little or no results at all.
However, talking to journalists in Arusha on February 21, 2025, the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Mr. Jerry Silaa, urged the public to report “the crimes,” saying many people had fallen victim to cybercrimes, resulting in financial losses, stolen phones, and even identity theft.
“Don’t entertain calls from unknown numbers or click on links you are not sure of. You could unknowingly expose your passwords and PIN codes, with criminals using your personal information to assume false identity,” he warned.
He urged victims to contact the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) for clarification or cross-check with the National Identification Authority (NIDA) to verify any suspicious name. However, when contacted, a TCRA official referred this reporter back to the Minister for clarification, saying he did not want to risk insubordination as the minister had already “elaborated” the matter.
Mr. Silaa called on the public to join and support the ministry’s anti-cybercrime campaign titled ‘Sitapeliki’ (I cannot be made a victim of conmen), aimed at raising awareness and finding solutions, as he stressed the need for joint and comprehensive efforts to tackle the problem.
Tanzania’s internet penetration has resulted in over 86.8 million mobile phone users, making it essential for the public to participate in the ‘Sitapeliki’ campaign to fight against cybercrimes. However, feedback and demonstrating results remain big challenges.
