TCRA reminds mobile users to verify, register simcards

THE Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has reminded users of mobile services to register their simcards, especially during this festival season, in order to protect themselves from cybercrimes.

Speaking during an interview in a local television channel, TCRA’s Head of Tele-Traffic Management, Mr Sadath Kalolo, said the verification of simcards will ensure safety of the mobile users.

“When verifying your simcards, you keep yourself and others safe, because those who do not register will be locked out of mobile services,” he stressed.

Mr Kalolo said the exercise to verify simcards started in December this year and will last until January 30, 2023.

“Once awareness campaign is concluded, users whose simcards have not been verified will not be able to access services,” he noted.

For those who use simcards registered with other people’s names should ensure that they obtain the national identity cards from the Authority of National Identification Authority (NIDA) and register those lines with their names.

Additionally, TCRA has instructed the youths who have turned 18 years old to acquire the national identity cards to register their simcards instead of continuing using IDs of their guardians or parents.

On his part, Mr Brighton Mosha, a mobile user from Dar es Salaam region, commended the ongoing countrywide exercise of simcards verification, saying it helped him to identify three mobile numbers registered under his name.

He said some scammers used simcards with fake names to swindle money from mobile users. These cybercriminals send sms to mobile users with intent to deceive them.