Mmegi

Inside Botswana’s growing digital safety challenge

Alarming trend: Cyberscams are increasing in frequency in the country
Alarming trend: Cyberscams are increasing in frequency in the country

When the question was asked, the room fell silent. "How many of you know someone who has been scammed using a mobile phone?" Slowly, hands began to rise. One hand became five. Five became twenty. Before long, almost everyone in the room had either lost money themselves or knew someone who had.

That moment has become a familiar scene for facilitators behind the Village Digital Safety Botswana Initiative, a voluntary community outreach programme that is quietly uncovering a reality many never imagined. Cybercrime has reached Botswana's villages.

Not through sophisticated computer hackers breaking into networks, but through simple phone calls, WhatsApp messages, fake competitions, fraudulent investment schemes and mobile money scams that prey on trust rather than technology.

Editor's Comment
Exercise extra caution!

Unfortunately, petty thieves tend to be more vicious around this time as they also prepare for the festive season. Culturally, many Batswana go home for the holiday, and petty thieves are amongst those who go home. Burglaries, car break-ins, and attacks on unsuspecting pedestrians seem to be on the rise!That is not all, as scammers continue to take money from pensioners as well as other Batswana who may fall prey to their unscrupulous tactics....

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