NaTCA DG Urges Stronger National Action to Tackle Rising Digital Fraud

The Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NaTCA), Amara Brewah, has called for a coordinated national response to the growing threat of mobile and digital fraud in Sierra Leone.

Brewah made the call during a national consultative workshop organised to develop and validate a National Roadmap to Combat Mobile Fraud in Sierra Leone, held at the NaTCA Auditorium in Freetown.

Addressing stakeholders at the event, the NaTCA boss said the increasing sophistication of digital scams requires stronger collaboration among telecommunications operators, regulators, financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, cybersecurity institutions and consumers.

He warned that citizens are increasingly being targeted through fraudulent messages and calls designed to impersonate trusted service providers, with victims often lured into clicking suspicious links, disclosing personal information or providing access to their mobile money accounts.

According to Brewah, the impact of digital fraud goes beyond financial losses, as victims may also suffer loss of income, disruption to their livelihoods and declining confidence in digital services.

He stressed that digital fraud should no longer be treated solely as a technological or cybersecurity challenge, but as a broader consumer protection, regulatory, law enforcement and national security issue.

Brewah said Sierra Leone’s digital transformation must be anchored on trust, security and accountability, noting that regulatory responsibilities extend beyond providing connectivity to ensuring that the networks and digital services used by citizens are safe, resilient and properly governed.

He identified several forms of fraud affecting consumers, including SIM-related fraud, SIM swapping, phishing, impersonation, identity theft, fraudulent calls and messages, mobile money scams and the misuse of numbering resources.

The Director-General noted that such crimes frequently involve multiple institutions, with a single fraudulent transaction potentially cutting across telecommunications networks, mobile money platforms, commercial banks, digital identity systems and law enforcement agencies.

He therefore urged mobile network operators and other service providers to strengthen fraud detection mechanisms, safeguard customer information, respond swiftly to reported incidents, establish effective complaints systems and cooperate fully with competent authorities.

Brewah warned that failure by service providers to meet their regulatory obligations could attract appropriate corrective measures and, where necessary, enforcement action.

Putting consumers at the centre of the fight against digital fraud, he said victims must have access to clear reporting channels, timely responses, effective investigations and appropriate redress.

He also called for increased public awareness, urging citizens to remain vigilant and learn how to identify phishing attempts, impersonation, fraudulent calls, suspicious links and other common forms of online deception.

However, he cautioned that public education alone cannot solve the problem, stressing that consumer awareness must be supported by strong institutional safeguards and effective regulatory enforcement.

Brewah further described cybersecurity as a national priority, noting that Sierra Leone’s communications networks, financial systems, public services and wider economy are becoming increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure.

He said NaTCA will continue working with the Bank of Sierra Leone, law enforcement agencies, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), cybersecurity institutions, mobile network operators, financial institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to improve information sharing, incident response, compliance monitoring and public awareness.

As part of the proposed National Roadmap, Brewah outlined five key priority areas: detection, prevention, rapid response, accountability and collaboration.

He explained that the priorities are intended to improve the identification of suspicious activities, strengthen safeguards across telecommunications and digital platforms, enhance reporting and investigation mechanisms, ensure compliance with regulatory obligations and promote sustained cooperation among relevant institutions.

Brewah concluded that Sierra Leone needs more than simply expanding digital connectivity; the country needs trusted connectivity, secure digital financial services and effective, coordinated and enforceable regulation.

He reaffirmed NaTCA’s commitment to strengthening regulation, consumer protection, stakeholder engagement and enforcement, while urging all stakeholders to move beyond discussions and translate the proposed roadmap into concrete actions to protect citizens and build confidence in Sierra Leone’s growing digital economy.