Kenya Records Surge in Cybercrime With 82 Per Cent Targeted, Gaming Sector Most Hit – Report
Kenya’s digital fraud landscape is rapidly deteriorating, with a staggering 82 per cent of Kenyans being targeted by fraudsters in the second half of 2024, up from 80 per cent in the first half, according to a new report by TransUnion.
More concerning, the proportion of Kenyans who fell victim to fraud rose from 8 per cent to 11 per cent in the same period, revealing an increasingly dire situation for internet users in the country.
The findings indicate that Kenya recorded 840.9 million cyber threats between October and December 2024, as cybercriminals continue to exploit the country’s digital vulnerabilities.
The average financial loss per victim reached $897 (Ksh116,000), underlining the personal toll fraud is taking on individuals.
Gaming Industry Most Targeted
Among all sectors, the gaming industry – particularly online gambling and poker – emerged as the most targeted for fraud, amid rising popularity of digital betting platforms. This mirrors global trends, where the gaming sector ranks as the third most targeted by suspected fraud attempts (7.8 per cent), trailing only behind communities and video gaming.
Communities, which include forums and dating platforms, saw the highest global fraud attempt rate at 11.6 per cent in 2024 – a 9 per cent increase from the previous year.
Kenya’s gaming sector also recorded a 20 per cent increase in fraud during 2024, while other industries like logistics (101 per cent), government (6 per cent), and financial services (3 per cent) also saw surges.
Smishing the Most Common Threat
Smishing – fraudulent text messages that trick victims into clicking malicious links or sharing sensitive details – was the most prevalent tactic used in Kenya. These messages often impersonate trusted institutions to mislead users.
The report also reveals a shift in fraudsters’ strategies, as criminals move away from complex, long-term scams to smaller, quick-hit frauds enabled by stolen identity data.
Cybercriminals Move Faster With AI
The World Economic Forum (WEF) reinforced the findings, stating that cybercriminals now take just four days to execute an attack, down from an average of 60 days in 2019. The shift is attributed to the use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, which criminals use to create new malware strains, automate attacks, and write code more efficiently.
WEF warns that the rise in AI adoption among cybercriminals, combined with the growing number of smartphone and laptop users, is creating an ideal environment for attacks.
The group highlighted that during the pandemic, the widespread use of unsecured private devices for work – often without multi-factor authentication – contributed to successful breaches. Today, mobile-targeted malware is being deployed to steal login credentials, hijack devices, or launch ransomware attacks.
The evolution of cybercrime in Kenya reflects global patterns, but the local impact is increasingly felt across all digital spaces, with the gaming industry and ordinary users facing heightened risk.
Experts are urging stronger cybersecurity frameworks, increased public awareness, and swift action to protect users from the ever-evolving threats in the digital space.
In other news:New Bill Proposes Metered Internet Billing and Mandatory Age Verification for Online Access
Kenya Records Surge in Cybercrime With 82 Per Cent Targeted, Gaming Sector Most Hit – Report