Digital fraud is becoming increasingly rampant in Kenya, with four out of five citizens reporting they’ve been targeted in recent months.
According to a new report by TransUnion, scammers are taking advantage of Kenya’s rapidly expanding digital landscape to carry out more sophisticated attacks.
The report, based on a nationwide survey conducted between November 21 and December 9, 2024, revealed that 82% of Kenyans had received fraudulent emails, texts, phone calls, or online messages in the three months leading up to the study. Alarmingly, 11% of those targeted confirmed they had fallen victim to at least one scam.
Cybercriminals are using a range of tactics to trick unsuspecting users. The most common techniques include:
- Smishing – fraudulent SMS messages aimed at stealing personal data, reported by 39% of respondents
- Phishing – fake emails, websites, or QR codes designed to deceive, affecting 36%
- Vishing – scam phone calls meant to manipulate victims, experienced by 33%
Amritha Reddy, Senior Director of Fraud Solutions at TransUnion Africa, explained that Kenya’s high level of mobile connectivity makes it a prime target for digital fraud.
“Kenya has a 133.7 per cent mobile phone penetration rate, with people using mobile phones to conduct their everyday business, connect with friends, or keep in touch with family, so it’s easy to understand why digital fraud would be such a common tactic among fraudsters targeting this region,” said Reddy.
She noted that fraudsters are adapting to popular communication channels in the regions they attack, making local trends a key factor in cybercrime strategies.
While 71% of respondents said they successfully avoided falling for scams, a staggering 45% admitted to losing money to fraud in the past year. Among the hardest hit were victims of third-party seller scams on legitimate e-commerce platforms (34%), followed by unemployment fraud (26%), and account takeovers (25%).
Kenya Among Africa’s Most Exposed Countries
These findings come from the TransUnion H1 2025 Update to the State of Omnichannel Fraud, which placed Kenya among Africa’s most exposed countries to digital fraud. Kenya tied with Namibia for second place, while Zambia recorded the lowest incidence.
“Digital fraud on community platforms is by no means a new phenomenon. In 2024, it appears that fraudsters targeted these areas with a renewed vigour,” added Reddy.
In a notable shift, fraud in the gaming industry surged 33.8% in Kenya, overtaking logistics as the most targeted sector. The gaming fraud attempt rate hit 12.9%, a significant rise compared to 2023.
Globally, 29% of consumers lost money to digital scams in 2024, with community platforms like dating sites, forums, and gaming hubs recording the highest fraud attempt rates.
In Kenya, the median financial loss stood at Ksh116,108, a heavy toll despite being lower than the global median loss of Ksh226,132. Even more concerning, 19% of Kenyans said they hadn’t been targeted by fraud, prompting cybersecurity experts to warn that many may be unaware they’ve been scammed.
Experts are calling for heightened vigilance as Kenyans increasingly embrace mobile money, online shopping, digital gaming, and dating apps. The report emphasizes the urgent need for stronger consumer education, better digital hygiene, and advanced fraud detection systems across digital platforms.
