By Marion Rion Bangura
Sierra Leone has launched a national push to combat cybercrime, warning that rapid adoption of mobile money, online banking, and social media platforms has left citizens increasingly exposed to digital scams. Speaking at a Ministry of Information and Civic Education forum at the Miatta Civic Centre on Monday, National Cybersecurity Coordinator Mariama Yormah urged the public to practice heightened “digital discipline” as fraud schemes grow more sophisticated.
Organized under the theme “The Fight Against Cyber Crimes – Where Are We?”, the event served as a major public education effort on the mechanics of social engineering. Yormah warned that technology alone cannot block cybercrime, as scammers rely primarily on manipulating human emotions such as fear, urgency, excitement, and sympathy.
Common Tactics Identified by Officials
WhatsApp Account Takeovers: Criminals hijack accounts and send urgent pleas for money to the victim’s contacts. Yormah advised verifying any cash request through a direct phone call before transferring funds.
Fake Job & Investment Offers: Fraudsters demand upfront payments for non-existent employment or run Ponzi schemes promising unrealistically high returns.
Phishing & SIM-Swap Attacks: Imposters send malicious links claiming accounts are blocked to steal credentials, or fraudulently obtain replacement SIM cards to access linked mobile wallets.
Romance Scams & Blackmail: Scammers cultivate fake online relationships to acquire sensitive personal photos or information, which are later used for extortion.
Practical Advice: “Stop, Think, Verify”
To counter these threats, Yormah urged citizens to adopt a simple golden rule: “Stop. Think. Verify.” Rather than reacting immediately to urgent messages, users should pause and double-check requests through independent communication channels.
For those targeted or victimized, officials emphasized the critical need to preserve evidence immediately—including taking screenshots of messages, saving phone numbers, and recording mobile money transaction details—and report the incident quickly to police and telecommunications providers to help trace stolen assets.
