Tanzanians Lost 5.3bn TZS to Fraud in One Year. Only 4.8% Came Back
Reported financial transaction fraud took 5.345 billion TZS from people in Tanzania during 2024. Police recovered about 4.8% of that money, leaving more than 5.09 billion TZS unrecovered in the statistics. The figures show why stopping a suspicious payment is far more reliable than expecting the money to return later.
What the 2024 fraud figures show
The National Bureau of Statistics report, using Tanzania Police Force data, recorded 4,091 financial transaction fraud offences in 2024. These incidents involved mobile networks, bank transfers, ATM withdrawals and other financial transactions.
The reported amount stolen was 5,345,019,866 TZS. The table in the same report records 254,085,600 TZS as recovered. That is approximately 4.8% of the reported loss.
The number of reported offences also rose. The report records 3,731 offences in 2023 and 4,091 in 2024, an increase of 9.6%.
These figures are reported cases, not a count of every person targeted. They also combine several types of financial transaction fraud. They should not be read as a measure of investment scams alone.
What a 4.8% recovery rate means in money
The national recovery percentage does not predict what will happen in an individual case. It does show the scale of the gap between money reported stolen and money recorded as recovered.
This illustration applies the same approximate proportion to a loss of 100,000 TZS:
| Illustration | Amount |
|---|---|
| Money stolen | 100,000 TZS |
| Amount recovered at 4.8% | about 4,800 TZS |
| Amount not recovered | about 95,200 TZS |
The table is not an estimate of what any victim will receive. Recovery depends on the facts, how quickly the incident is reported and whether the money can be traced. Its purpose is to show why the national figure matters.
Fraud payments can move through several accounts or mobile numbers quickly. Once the recipient withdraws or transfers the funds, reversing the original transaction becomes harder. Prevention therefore carries more weight than a promise that someone can recover the money later.
Mobile-network fraud reports rose in early 2025
Police crime statistics and TCRA communications data measure different things. They should not be added together.
TCRA reported 17,152 mobile-network frauds and attempted frauds for January–March 2025. The previous quarter, October–December 2024, recorded 12,896. According to TCRA’s report summary, that was a quarter-on-quarter increase of 33%.
The TCRA total includes attempts, not only cases where money was lost. A rise can also reflect better reporting. TCRA noted that public education may have encouraged more people to report suspicious numbers through its free reporting channel.
The two datasets still point in the same practical direction. Fraud attempts are frequent enough that unexpected calls, messages and payment requests deserve verification before action.
BoT prohibited 69 unapproved loan applications
Unlicensed financial activity is not limited to messages from unknown individuals. It can also appear through polished mobile applications.
On 21 November 2024, the Bank of Tanzania published a notice listing 69 applications that lacked its approval. The notice said they were not permitted to continue providing digital lending services.
BoT explained that the applications lacked a licence and approval or had not met its 2024 guidance for digital lenders. That guidance covers transparency, fees and interest, debt collection, customer information and privacy.
The figure does not mean every loan application is illegal. It shows why an app-store listing, professional design or large number of downloads cannot replace a regulator check. The current BoT list should be checked before using a digital lender.
The reported total is probably not the full loss
The NBS report counts offences known to police. It cannot include a loss that was never reported.
Some victims stay silent because they feel ashamed or blame themselves. Others believe reporting will not recover the money, particularly after a small loss. A Tanzanian online-scam awareness campaign reported by The Citizen identified shame, self-blame and fear of judgement as barriers to speaking out.
None of those reactions means the victim was careless or unintelligent. Fraud is designed to create trust, urgency or fear. Reporting can preserve evidence, help block the number or account and warn authorities about a pattern, even when recovery is uncertain.
This is why the official total should be treated as a documented minimum. It is evidence of the known problem, not proof of its full size.
What to do next
If money has already left your account, act quickly — see what to do in the first 24 hours after a scam.
- Stop further payments, including any fee claimed to “release” or recover your money.
- Save messages, receipts, phone numbers, account names, websites and app details.
- Contact your bank or mobile money provider immediately and ask what action is possible.
- Report the incident to police. TCRA says telecommunication fraud cases are handled by police.
- Send the suspected telephone number by SMS with the word UTAPELI to 15040, as stated in TCRA’s fraud guidance.
- Review 8 Signs an Investment Offer Is a Scam before responding to another offer.
Frequently asked questions
How much money was lost to reported financial fraud in Tanzania in 2024?
The NBS report records 5,345,019,866 TZS stolen through 4,091 reported financial transaction fraud offences during 2024.
How much of the stolen money was recovered?
The same report records 254,085,600 TZS recovered. That is approximately 4.8% of the amount reported stolen.
Does the figure include every fraud victim?
No. It covers offences reported and recorded in the police statistics. Unreported incidents are not included.
Are TCRA fraud attempts the same as police fraud cases?
No. TCRA’s communications data includes attempted mobile-network fraud. The NBS report records financial transaction fraud offences reported to police.
Where can I report a suspicious telephone number?
TCRA instructs users to send an SMS containing the word UTAPELI to 15040. Report an actual fraud and financial loss to police and notify the payment provider promptly.
Last updated: August 2026.