By: Aminata Sesay
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has directed key government and telecommunications officials to appear before the House to address growing concerns over the increasing cases of WhatsApp account hacking and mobile money fraud across the country.
The matter was raised during the announcements segment of parliamentary proceedings by Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, who expressed concern over the rising trend of cyber fraud, particularly the hacking of WhatsApp accounts and the use of compromised accounts to solicit money from victims’ contacts through mobile money platforms.
Hon. Kamara explained that such incidents have become increasingly common, with fraudsters gaining access to individuals’ WhatsApp accounts and sending messages to friends, relatives, and other contacts requesting financial assistance.
He cited a recent case involving a friend whose WhatsApp account was hacked and used by fraudsters to request money from contacts. According to him, victims often report such incidents to the police, but investigations are sometimes complicated by challenges in tracing the mobile money numbers involved. He noted that some numbers are reported to be unregistered, despite names appearing during money transfers.
In response to the concerns, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, noted that the mobile money number mentioned in the case was linked to Orange Sierra Leone. He emphasized the need for telecommunications companies and relevant authorities to provide explanations and outline measures being taken to tackle the growing problem.
The Speaker subsequently directed the Clerk of Parliament to invite the Minister of Communication, the spokesperson of the National Cyber Security Unit, the Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, and the Director General of the National Communications Authority (NatCA) to appear before Parliament.
The officials are expected to brief lawmakers on the measures being implemented to combat cybercrime, strengthen consumer protection, and address the increasing misuse of digital communication and mobile financial services.
Speaker Thomas stressed the importance of safeguarding citizens as Sierra Leone continues to expand its use of digital platforms and electronic financial services. He called for stronger collaboration among telecommunications providers, cybersecurity institutions, regulators, and law enforcement agencies to develop effective solutions to online fraud.
The parliamentary action comes amid growing public concern over the misuse of hacked WhatsApp accounts to defraud unsuspecting individuals, highlighting the urgent need for improved cybersecurity awareness, stronger digital protections, and enhanced accountability within the telecommunications sector.