Our digital safety is in our hands

The Monitor Editor | Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:04

That sounds like good news. But the report also warns that this may simply be because our digital economy is still young, not because we are safe. As more people shop, bank and pay online, criminals will follow.

We Batswana do not need a report to tell us that danger is real. Many of us have heard of or fallen victim to KYC scams. A caller impersonates your bank or mobile money provider. They say they need to “verify” your account. They ask for your PIN, your ID number, or a one-time password. The moment you hand that over, your money disappears. The TransUnion report found that the highest risk comes at account creation, with a fraud rate of 2.6%. That is exactly where KYC fraudsters strike, when a trusting person believes they are protecting their account, but is actually opening the door to a thief.

We call on every Motswana to remain watchful. No real bank, shop or mobile money service will ever phone or text you asking for your PIN or full password. If a stranger sends you a link promising quick cash, a prize or a loan, do not click. If someone pressures you to act at once, stop. End the call. Go to the official website or visit a branch yourself. Your caution is the strongest shield you have.

But looking after ourselves is not enough. We call on the Government to step up and protect its people. Banks and mobile operators must be required by law to use stronger security checks, to monitor suspicious activity in real time, and to give victims a clear path to getting their money back. Public awareness campaigns must be run not once, but regularly, in Setswana, English and every language spoken across this country, so that no one is left in the dark. Our police must get proper training to investigate digital crimes, and courts must hand down punishments that make scammers think twice.

The same report shows that retail, online gaming and financial services are the most exposed sectors. That means our everyday life is the battlefield. A 0.9% fraud rate brings no comfort to a family that has just lost its monthly income to a con artist. Government must build the legal and technical defences now, while the threat is still growing. And every Motswana must guard their personal details as carefully as they lock their front door at night. In the digital world, our safety begins with the choices we make today.