A study by Visa Stay Secure 2025 shows that 71% of Kenyan consumers have fallen victim to digital fraud, more so in digital payments, making Kenya the most affected in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The majority of them have acknowledged being victims of the fraud, particularly through smishing.
“Consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa (66%) are the most likely to admit being a victim, with the largest number in Kenya (71%). This suggests that Kenyans have more experience than some of their neighbors with schemes such as smishing, which involves fraudulent text messages aimed at extracting sensitive data,” the report stated.
Despite this, Visa East Africa Vice President and General Manager, Chad Pollock, said Kenyan consumers are becoming more vigilant about security while embracing the convenience of digital payments.
Her sentiments reflect an aspect in the findings that while Kenyan consumers acknowledge their vulnerability to cyber threats such as phishing, there is a notable shift towards stronger authentication methods and heightened security awareness.
Also Read: Why Kenya Won’t Be Visa-Free as Directed by President Ruto
Compared to the 2023 edition of the Stay Secure study, Kenyan consumers are now more proactive in spotting fraud attempts and verifying online interactions.
“The digital payments landscape is evolving rapidly, and consumers across Kenya are embracing its convenience while becoming more vigilant about security.
As scams grow more sophisticated, the battle for security never stops. Consumers increasingly trust partners who take tangible steps to protect them,” said Pollock.
Digital payments in Kenya have skyrocketed to a record 90% and the figures are expected to surge in the next 12 months – but those who have fallen pray to scams (95%) worrying their families and friends might fall victim
Visa also disclosed that in the past year, it successfully blocked $40 billion worth of fraudulent payments, prevented 80 million fraudulent transactions, and averted over $122 million in estimated e-commerce fraud through malware detection.
The ninth annual Stay Secure study, which surveyed 5,800 adults across 17 Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) markets, found that 97% of consumers now actively take precautions to secure their online transactions.
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the longer term and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I may I desire to suggest you some fascinating issues or suggestions. Maybe you could write next articles relating to this article. I want to learn more issues approximately it!