Sierra Leone launched the National Awareness-Raising Programme on Mobile Money Fraud, WhatsApp Scams, Cyber Hygiene and Online Safety on October 8, 2026. The initiative aims to educate the public on identifying and preventing digital threats. Officials from the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, alongside the National Communications Authority, introduced the campaign to address rising reports of fraudulent activity within the country. The National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre is overseeing the implementation of the project, which focuses on mobile money security and personal data protection. Participants in the programme will receive guidance on maintaining cyber hygiene to mitigate risks posed by online scams. This effort is part of the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project, designed to secure the nation's growing digital infrastructure.
Collaborative Effort Against Cybercrime
NatCA, the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI), the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NC3), and the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project operate as partners in this campaign. These four entities combined their resources and regulatory oversight to execute the outreach initiative. Officials held the official launch event at the NatCA Auditorium in Freetown.
The launch event at the NatCA Auditorium in Freetown served as the primary venue for introducing the strategic objectives of the initiative to the public and stakeholders. By hosting the event at the NatCA Auditorium in Freetown, the organizers emphasized the importance of institutional cooperation in safeguarding the digital landscape. The collaboration between NatCA, the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI), the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NC3), and the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project ensures that technical expertise is shared across all participating government branches. This partnership between NatCA, the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI), the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NC3), and the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project provides a unified response to the challenges posed by modern digital threats.
Legislative frameworks support these enforcement efforts through the Cyber Security and Crime Act, 2021. This law criminalizes specific acts of cyber misconduct, including computer-related fraud, identity theft, and cyberstalking. Sierra Leone's Cyber Security and Crime Act, 2021, criminalizes cyber misconduct including computer-related fraud, identity theft, and cyberstalking. Legal authorities utilize these provisions to prosecute individuals engaging in prohibited online activities. By citing the Cyber Security and Crime Act, 2021, authorities aim to deter potential offenders from engaging in computer-related fraud, identity theft, and cyberstalking.
The National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre maintains a dedicated channel for the public to submit information regarding potential digital threats. Individuals may report incidents of suspected cybercrime by calling +232 30 952027. Alternatively, users can send details of suspicious activity to the email address [email protected]. Incidents of suspected cybercrime can be reported to the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre at +232 30 952027 or [email protected]. The centre processes these reports to monitor trends in regional digital threats and to assist victims of online harm. By utilizing the contact number +232 30 952027 or the email [email protected], the public plays a key role in providing the data necessary for the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre to track emerging patterns of illicit behavior.
