Experts tip public how to avoid scams

CAPTION: L-R Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission, George William Nyombi, Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi and Airtel Uganda Managing Director, Som Soumendra at the launch of the Airtel AI-powered Spam Alert Service in Kampala recently. (Courtsey photo).

By Ivan Darlington Mwebe 

KAMPALA – Telecom giant Airtel Uganda, in collaboration with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and the Bank of Uganda (BoU), has issued vital safety tips to help Ugandans guard against the rising wave of mobile scams.

Speaking during a recent X (formerly Twitter) Space discussion hosted by Airtel Uganda under the theme “Scam Follows Spam: What Needs to Be Done to Protect Uganda’s Digital Ecosystem,” representatives from UCC and the Bank of Uganda raised concerns over the growing threats of spam, scams, and mobile money fraud urging the public to remain vigilant and informed.

Uganda’s digital ecosystem is expanding rapidly, with over 50 million mobile phone users, 32 million active mobile money wallets, and 19.5 million internet subscribers. However, this growth has been paralleled by a surge in cybercrime. According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report of 2024, the country experienced a staggering 200% increase in fraud and cyber-related crimes, highlighting the urgent need for stronger digital security measures and collaborative interventions.

During the discussion, Kenneth Tweheyo, Manager of Consumer Affairs at UCC, cautioned that fraudsters are taking advantage of the country’s swift adoption of smartphones and digital transactions.

“Scammers are getting smarter,” Tweheyo warned. “They send fake job offers, lottery wins, and even impersonate banks. Many victims end up losing money simply by clicking malicious links or sharing personal details.”

Tweheyo also noted that the internet has become a vast marketplace for everything from e-commerce and education to telemedicine. But alongside these benefits, he warned, comes a growing risk of exploitation by cybercriminals.

Echoing similar concerns, Albert Ntege, Head of Licensing at BoU, emphasized that while digital payments have driven financial inclusion, they’ve also created new avenues for fraud.

“We’ve strengthened our oversight of fintechs,” Ntege said,” but end-users must also take precautions to protect themselves.”

Earlier this year, Airtel Africa introduced a new AI-driven Spam Alert System that automatically identifies and filters suspicious messages before they reach users. David Birungi, PR Manager at Airtel Uganda, explained that the innovation reflects a growing industry commitment to tackle fraud and scams both across Africa and within Uganda.

While Airtel Uganda is governed by licenses from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and the Bank of Uganda (BOU), Birungi emphasized that the company

also depends on a social license rooted in public trust. This trust informs how Airtel delivers financial and digital services to millions of Ugandans.

This approach highlights Airtel’s understanding that technology alone isn’t enough. Building user confidence across age groups especially in a country with a wide range of digital literacy is key to creating a safe and inclusive digital ecosystem. The Airtel Spam Alert Service, which has a 99.7% detection rate, is already blocking over 50,000 scam attempts daily.

“We’ve seen far too many people lose their hard-earned money simply by responding to spam messages. That’s why public education is key, people need to understand that a SIM card is more than just a communication tool, it’s a gateway to financial and personal data. Through our AI-powered Spam Alert system, we’re using technology to scan and analyze incoming messages, flagging suspicious content in real time to keep our customers safe,” said David Birungi.

Practical Tips to Stay Safe

As part of the campaign, Airtel, UCC, and BOU have shared key tips for users to protect themselves from fraud:

From Airtel Uganda:

• Never share your mobile money PIN via call, SMS, or messaging apps like WhatsApp.
• Ignore unsolicited job offers or suspicious promotional messages.
• Report suspicious numbers directly to Airtel or UCC for investigation.

From UCC and BOU:

• Activate UCC’s *196# Do-Not-Disturb service to block spam calls and texts.
• Verify unexpected messages, even those appearing to come from banks or familiar companies.
• Use strong, unique PINs for mobile money and avoid storing them on your device.

As Uganda’s digital ecosystem continues to grow, collaboration between telecom providers, regulators, and consumers will be key to staying ahead of cyber threats. While tools like Airtel’s AI spam filter are major advancements, experts agree that public awareness and caution are equally essential.

“Scammers thrive on deception, don’t give them the chance. Stay alert, question strange messages, and help spread the word to protect others.” Birungi concluded.