By Lynette Waweru
Kenyans are facing pressure from many sides. The economy remains difficult, with high business costs, debt concerns and uncertainty affecting households and companies. At the same time, the build-up to the next elections is adding tension, as political competition increases across the country not mentioning mobile money scams.
This pressure has created a wider opening for mobile money scams. When people are tired, busy or worried, they are more likely to miss warning signs. Fraudsters know this. They often strike at ordinary moments: during traffic, while someone is making a payment, or when a person is responding quickly to a message or call.
Mobile Money Scams are Getting More Personal
The Communications Authority of Kenya has warned that mobile money scams and other cyber threats are becoming more targeted. Common tactics now include phishing, social engineering, fake emails, deepfakes and scams created using artificial intelligence.
In many cases, the scam does not begin with complex hacking. It begins with a simple action. A person clicks a link, shares a code, answers a fake customer care call, or enters personal details on a false website.
Kenya’s large mobile money market has made this risk more serious. In 2025, the CA reported about 47.7 million active mobile money subscriptions, with penetration of around 91%. Mobile money is now central to how many Kenyans send, receive and store money.
Fraudsters have used this trust to impersonate Safaricom, Huduma Namba, NTSA the CA and other familiar institutions. Some claim there is a SIM registration issue. Others ask for one-time codes or personal details.
Simple Checks Can Reduce Risk
The same mobile money scams risks appear in daily life. A person may connect to free Wi-Fi at a café. A football fan may visit a fake betting site. During election season, fake campaign websites may be used to collect personal information.
The best protection against mobile money scams is caution. Verify callers, check website addresses, avoid sharing codes, and use strong security tools. Kenyans may not control economic or political uncertainty, but they can take small steps to protect their money, data and devices.
