Tanzania blocks 44,306 fake devices as it intensifies crackdown on telecom fraud

DODOMA: THE Tanzanian government has intensified efforts to combat telecommunication fraud through enhanced regulation of mobile devices and SIM cards, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Mr Jerry Silaa, has said.

Presenting his ministry’s 2025/26 budget estimates before the National Assembly on Friday, Mr Silaa said the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) continued to oversee the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), which identifies and blocks fake or duplicated mobile device identification numbers.

He said a total of 44,306 device identification numbers were blocked after being reported stolen, lost, or linked to criminal activities. “This intervention has helped reduce theft and ensured the availability of quality communication devices on the market,” Mr Silaa said.

Over 47,000 SIM cards blocked

In a related development, the Minister revealed that 47,728 SIM cards were deactivated, while 39,028 National ID numbers were blacklisted for irregularities.

He said TCRA, in collaboration with security agencies, also conducted operations that led to the seizure of 42 devices used in international call bypass fraud schemes.

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“This exercise is ongoing and aims to curb revenue leakage and protect consumers of communication services in the country,” he told the lawmakers.

Mobile subscriptions hit 90.4 million

Mr Silaa reported that as of April 2025, Tanzania had recorded 90.4m mobile subscriptions. These include both person-to-person SIM cards and those used for machine-to-machine communication.

Mobile money transactions surge

The Minister also noted a sharp increase in mobile money transactions. Between July 2024 and April 2025, the number of transactions rose from 363m to 477m—an increase of 24.7 percent.

In the same period, the total value of transactions surged from 873m/- to 1.37 bn/-, representing a 56.5 per cent growth. “The increase is attributed to the growing use of digital payment platforms,” Mr Silaa explained.