Donald Lukele
In a crackdown on online fraud, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has blocked more than 17,300 phone lines from sending and receiving communications over the past three months.
According to the Trends in the Communications Sector Report released by TCRA, incidents of fraud decreased from 20,939 lines blocked between October and December 2023 to 17,318 from January to March 2024, marking a 15% decline.
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TCRA Director General Dr. Jabiri Bakari stated that the Rukwa and Morogoro regions led in phone fraud incidents, accounting for two-thirds of all cases. Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, and Tabora saw fewer instances, while the North and South Pemba regions reported the lowest levels of fraud.
Dr. Bakari explained that TCRA has taken measures to prevent the use of phones reported as stolen, lost, or damaged, as well as the use of substandard or counterfeit devices. This has enabled the identification and blocking of duplicate IMEI numbers.
To further combat the issue, TCRA is encouraging citizens to report any suspicious phone numbers linked to fraud or scams by sending them to the toll-free number 15040 via SMS. The regulator remains committed to protecting consumers and maintaining the integrity of Tanzania’s telecommunications sector.
