Exposed: The Top 10 Online Scams in Tanzania (Don’t Be a Victim) 🚫

Status: Active Threats ⚠️ Targets: Job Seekers, Students, Instagram Shoppers Risk Level: High (Loss of Money & Data)

🚨 The “Red Flag” Summary

Mwanangu, scammers in 2025 are not just sending “Tuma kwa namba hii.” They are sophisticated. They have websites, fake offices, and even “Customer Care” lines.

If anyone asks you to pay money to get money, it is 100% a SCAM. Here are the Top 10 tricks they are using right now.

1. The “Job Registration Fee” Scam (Utapeli wa Ajira) 👔

The most painful scam because it targets the unemployed.

• The Trick: You see a job ad on WhatsApp or Facebook for “Data Entry,” “Bus Ticketing,” or “Receptionist.” It looks official. They tell you: “You are selected! Send TZS 10,000 for your ID Card and Uniform to start work.”
• The Reality: Once you send the 10k, they block you. There is no job.
• Rule: Genuine companies (Vodacom, CRDB, Gov) NEVER ask for money to hire you.

2. The “Fake Reversal” SMS (Meseji ya Kubuni) 📩

• The Trick: You receive an SMS that looks like it is from M-Pesa or Tigo Pesa: “Imethibitishwa: Umepokea TZS 150,000 kutoka…”
• The Trap: Immediately, someone calls you crying: “Brother, I sent money to your number by mistake to pay for my child’s hospital bill. Please return it!”
• The Reality: Check the Sender Name. Real messages come from “MPESA” or “TIGOPESA.” Fake messages come from a normal phone number (e.g., +255 712…). If you “return” the money, you are sending your own money.

3. The “Instagram Store” Delivery Scam 🛍️

• The Trick: An Instagram page sells iPhones or Sneakers at a very low price (e.g., iPhone 12 for 300k).
• The Trap: You DM them. They say: “We are in Zanzibar/Arusha. Send TZS 20,000 delivery fee first, then pay the rest upon delivery.”
• The Reality: You send the 20k. They block you. They target 10 people a day = 200k profit.
• Fix: Pay on Delivery (Lipia Ukipokea) or go to their physical shop.

4. The “Loan Shark” Apps (Mikopo Umiza) 🦈

• The Trick: You download an app promising an instant loan of TZS 50,000 without collateral.
• The Trap: You give them permission to access your Contacts. If you delay payment by 1 day, they call your Mother, Boss, and Wife telling them: “This person is a thief who refuses to pay his debts.”
• Status: Many of these are illegal, but they still exist on the PlayStore.

5. The “Tap-to-Earn” Crypto Miners ⛏️

• The Trick: A Telegram Bot tells you to “Tap” your screen to mine a new coin (like the recent waves of Telegram miners).
• The Trap: You tap for months. When it’s time to withdraw, they say: “Pay $10 (Gas Fee) to receive your coins.”
• The Reality: You pay the $10, and you receive nothing. The coin is fake.

6. The “Ponzi” Investment (Wekeza 10k Upate 30k) 🔺

• The Trick: A WhatsApp group invites you to “Grow your money.” “Invest 10,000 today, get 30,000 in 24 hours.”
• The Reality: They pay the first few people to make it look real (using new victims’ money). Then, once they collect a few million, the Admin closes the group and disappears.

7. The “Scholarship/Visa” Agent ✈️

• The Trick: “Guaranteed Work Visa to Canada/Poland.”
• The Trap: They ask for a “Processing Fee” or “Medical Checkup Fee” of TZS 500,000. They meet you in a nice rented office in Posta.
• The Reality: A week later, the office is empty. The “Agent” is gone.
• Verify: Check the official embassy website.

8. “Wangiri” (One Ring Scam) 📞

• The Trick: You see a missed call from a strange country code (e.g., +37… or +44…).
• The Trap: You call back out of curiosity.
• The Reality: It is a “Premium Rate” number. Calling it drains your Airtime (Vocha) instantly, costing TZS 5,000 per minute. Never call back foreign numbers you don’t know.

9. SIM Swap Fraud (Wizi wa Lain) 📲

• The Trick: You lose network signal suddenly.
• The Trap: A scammer has used a fake ID to pretend to be you at a Vodashop/Tigo shop and “swapped” your line to a new SIM card.
• The Goal: They now receive your OTPs (One Time Passwords) and can empty your Bank Account and M-Pesa.
• Action: If your SIM loses signal for no reason, Find WiFi and contact your network operator immediately.

10. The “Sponsor” / Romance Scam ❤️

• The Trick: A foreigner (Mzungu) DMs you on Facebook/Tinder. They fall in love fast.
• The Trap: “I have sent you a gift (Laptop/Phone/Money), but it is stuck at the Airport/Customs. Please send TZS 200,000 to the ‘Agent’ to release it.”
• The Reality: There is no gift. The “Agent” is their partner.

🛡️ How to Report Scams in Tanzania

If you have been scammed, don’t just stay silent.

1. Report to TCRA: Forward the scam SMS to the number 15040.
2. Report to Police: Go to the “Cyber Crime Unit” at your local Police station.
3. JamiiForums: Post the scammer’s number on JamiiForums to warn others. Google indexes these numbers, so you save the next victim.

Have you seen any of these recently? Warn your fellow Tanzanians in the comments! 👇