Communication Authority (CA) Director General Ezra Chiloba has said Kenyans continue to fall victims of cyber fraud due to use of counterfeit devices.
Speaking during World Consumer Rights Day in Mombasa, Chiloba maintained that the digital finance space in Kenya will always be under threat unless thorough regulations are carried out to root out counterfeit mobile devices.
“A lot of the fraud taking place in the digital finance space is because of the counterfeit devices,” he said.
According to the Kenyan government, up to three million users had counterfeit handsets as of June 2012 when the government publicized a switch-off of the “fake” devices.
Chiloba said CA tracks the online environment on a daily basis to ensure the safety and security of the cyber space.
He explained: “We don’t do this because we are snooping but to secure the environment and hence the sustainable provision of telecommunication services.”
This, he said is done in collaboration with other actors within and outside the country.
He further confirmed that complaints registered with the organization are tracked and remedial actions taken.
“We sometimes receive complaints that relate to cyber fraud and ensure to take remedial action where necessary,” he said.