Cybercrime Epidemic Hits Sierra Leone: Over 1,000 Victims Defrauded

Massive Ponzi Scheme Exposed in West Africa

FREETOWN - A staggering number of over 1,000 Sierra Leoneans have fallen victim to an online business platform called Super Advertis, which promised huge profits but turned out to be a Ponzi scheme. The scammers made off with a massive nine billion Leones (approximately $369,000) before disappearing into thin air.

How the Scam Worked

The scammers operated without a license for over two months, using mobile money platforms operated by Orange and Africell to collect funds from unsuspecting victims. The platform promised high returns on investment, with some promotional products offering up to 168 million Leones as benefit.

Victims’ Stories

Many of the victims were young people, including university students who had deposited their tuition fees, petty traders, commercial bike riders, and other public transport operators. One victim, Lamin Kamara, claimed he lost twenty million old Leones (approximately $8,000) after falling prey to the scam.

The Growing Concern

“This is not the first time Sierra Leoneans have been lured into such scams,” said Richmond Redwood-Sawyerr, Director of Cyber Resilience at the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NC3). “We are seeing an exponential increase in cybercrimes in Sierra Leone, and it’s mainly due to a lack of awareness about digital scam and cyber threats.”

The Need for Awareness

Redwood-Sawyerr emphasized that many people do not know what constitutes a cybercrime, which is why they often report only larceny involving phone theft and not other types of cybercrimes. “Our primary objective is to safeguard citizens against such deceptions through raising awareness about cybersecurity and educating the public about the nature of online scams,” he said.

The Role of Institutions

The government established the NC3 and the National Cybersecurity Advisory Council in 2021 to manage online safety and cybersecurity issues. However, despite these efforts, the country’s cybersecurity centre is still not fully prepared to tackle the growing threats posed by digital technology and artificial intelligence.

The Way Forward

To achieve a safer cyber space, Redwood-Sawyerr emphasized the need for complete establishment of critical institutions, developing processes, enforcing them, and implementing security measures to secure information infrastructure.

Conclusion

The case of Super Advertis underscores a growing concern in the digital age, where fraudulent schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated. As Sierra Leone grapples with this cybercrime epidemic, authorities are working to prevent, detect, mitigate, and respond effectively to cyber incidents.