By Fatima Kpaka
Parliament has sounded a red alert over the growing wave of mobile money scams linked to the Orange network, calling for urgent government action to protect citizens from financial fraud.
On Tuesday, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas directed the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Technology to present a detailed explanation and remedial plan to address the alarming rise in cyber‑enabled fraud. He warned that scammers appear to be exploiting the Orange mobile platform with increasing ease.
Communications Minister Salima Bah confirmed that impersonation and digital fraud are spreading rapidly across Sierra Leone. She explained that criminals are creating fake WhatsApp and social media accounts using the identities of ministers, MPs, and public figures to solicit money, advertise bogus jobs, promote fraudulent investments, or pressure victims into urgent transfers. Other schemes include phishing links, fake customer care agents, and fraudulent mobile money requests.
Bah noted that similar scams have been reported in Ghana, South Africa, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the US. She outlined government’s three‑pronged strategy: educating citizens to recognize scams, strengthening consumer protection, and improving investigation and enforcement to ensure perpetrators face justice. Public awareness campaigns are being rolled out nationwide through radio, TV, newspapers, social media, and community outreach, alongside mobile operators’ “pause and verify” messaging.
Opposition Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo urged coordinated action, warning that the fraud epidemic is eroding public trust and threatening financial stability. He shared his own experience of a suspicious money request and pledged his side’s support for stronger safeguards.
Majority Leader Hon. Matthew Nyuma called for immediate oversight hearings with regulators and mobile operators, stressing that citizens are “suffering from hackers” and demanding accountability. Opposition Whip Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara raised concerns about unclaimed balances, inheritance access, taxation of digital transactions, and network stabilization.
Committee Chairman Hon. Boston Munda reported that his team had conducted an oversight tour and gathered public views on poor mobile service, with a report to be presented soon.
NaTCA Director General Amara Briwa informed Parliament that a new phase of SIM card registration will begin next week, supported by sensitization campaigns. He said NaTCA is conducting drive tests, issuing directives, and fining operators over poor service, citing Orange’s recent power challenges. He confirmed that NaTCA is actively involved in arresting fraudsters and handing them over for prosecution.