Zambia Launches Nationwide Campaign to Tackle Rising Digital Fraud
The Zambian government, working with the country’s leading mobile operators and financial service providers, has unveiled a nationwide Joint Fraud Awareness Campaign aimed at combating the surge in digital fraud.
Fresh statistics reveal a sobering picture: nearly 80 per cent of Zambians were targeted by digital fraud in the past year, with mobile money scams alone costing the economy more than K120 million annually.
The campaign, launched under the theme “Be Fraud Smart: Protect Your Money, Protect Your Identity”, seeks to safeguard citizens as the country continues its rapid digital transformation.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Technology and Science, Hon. Felix Chipota Mutati, highlighted the human cost of cybercrime. “These fraudsters rob our mothers of school fees, our youth of startup capital, and our farmers of hard-earned income,” he said.
The initiative is a joint effort involving the GSM Association of Zambia, Zamtel, MTN, Airtel, Zed Mobile, the Bank of Zambia, ZICTA and Payz. Together, these organisations have pledged to restore public trust in digital platforms and strengthen security.
Government representatives also highlighted ongoing measures to curb online crime, including the enforcement of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act. New technologies such as AI-powered fraud detection, real-time transaction monitoring and biometric verification are being deployed to prevent identity theft and SIM swap fraud.
While technology plays a key role, the campaign places strong emphasis on public awareness. Outreach efforts will span radio, social media, roadshows and SMS alerts, delivered in both English and local languages to ensure maximum reach.
The *707# reporting system was highlighted as a successful example of citizen action, having already saved Zambians more than K21 million this year. Citizens are encouraged to remain vigilant and to “Report, Verify, and Protect” their money.
Looking to the future, the campaign outlined five strategic priorities: the establishment of a National Fraud Intelligence Taskforce, the creation of a Digital Trust Index, the introduction of a Cyber Hygiene Curriculum in schools, the expansion of the *707# system into a full fraud response portal with victim support, and the development of a Fraud Risk Dashboard for regulators and operators.
Minister Mutati stressed that this was not a one-off initiative but the beginning of a broader movement to ensure Zambia’s digital future is safe and secure for all citizens.
