By Alfred Zacharia
Dar es Salaam. Communication and consumer protection experts have urged Tanzanians to remain
vigilant in the wake of rising incidents of mobile fraud, while commending
technology-led innovations, such as Airtel Tanzania’s AI-powered Spam Alert
service, for helping the public stay ahead of scammers.
Speaking on the current status of
mobile fraud and the importance of embracing digital safety, Mary Shayo,
Executive Secretary of the TCRA Consumer Consultative Council (TCRA-CCC), emphasised
that mobile fraud continues to be a significant challenge for users of
communication services.
“Fraud not only leads to
financial loss, but it also erodes public trust in mobile communication. And
yet, mobile phones play a vital role in our daily lives, economically,
socially, and professionally,” Shayo said.
She reaffirmed the government's
commitment to fighting digital crime through initiatives like the #SITAPELIKI
campaign, which aims to educate and protect mobile users across the country.
She noted that collaboration with mobile operators and tech innovators has been
crucial in enhancing public awareness and building resilience against scammers.
“We encourage users to be
vigilant whenever they receive suspicious messages from fraudsters. Our ongoing
#SITAPELIKI campaign, run in partnership with all mobile network operators,
plays a key role in this. In that regard, we commend Airtel Tanzania for its
groundbreaking innovation, Airtel Spam Alert – Kataa Matapeli service, which
uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect scam messages in real-time and
protect customers,” she said.
Shayo emphasised that the
initiative demonstrates Airtel’s commitment to consumer protection and aligns
with national efforts to create a safer digital environment.
“This is not just a technological
breakthrough, it is a practical way of empowering users to make informed
decisions and stay safe. Airtel deserves praise for taking responsibility and
leading by example.”
On his part, Florence Mtuka, a
representative from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology
Consumer Consultative Council, said Airtel’s investment supports the
government’s broader goal of ensuring safe internet usage, especially as
communication services expand into underserved areas.
“As network coverage increases,
we’ve seen a surge in mobile phone adoption, including in rural areas. Many
users are transitioning from feature phones to smartphones, which increases
both opportunity and risk. Solutions like Airtel Spam Alert, which leverage AI
to analyse and classify messages based on historical data, are timely and
essential,” said Mtuka.
He stressed that such innovations
will greatly assist the government in safeguarding citizens, especially in
rural and low-literacy regions, where understanding the nuances of digital
scams may be difficult.
“These solutions help digital
services grow without compromising safety. That’s the balance we need to
support widespread, inclusive digital adoption,” he stated.
On behalf of Airtel Tanzania,
Beatrice Singano, Director of Corporate Communications, highlighted the broad
reach and inclusivity of the Spam Alert service, which is available nationwide
and compatible with both smartphones and feature phones.
“The AI system continuously
filters and flags potentially fraudulent messages, giving users the ability to
identify and act before harm occurs,” said Singano.
She called on customers to take
personal steps in protecting themselves, such as ensuring their mobile numbers
are registered in their names, and urged continued public education as scammers
adapt their techniques.
“Let’s remain alert and educate each other. Airtel will never send messages or make calls from any number except 100. The new AI-powered Airtel Spam Alert service helps users assess whether a message is legitimate or fraudulent, putting the power in their hands to make safe choices,” she emphasised. We join hands with the government in saying ‘Kataa Matapeli’. Together, we can ensure mobile technology is not only empowering but safe for every Tanzanian,” Beatrice remarked.