Dar es Salaam. A growing wave of social media and e-commerce scams is leaving thousands of Tanzanians financially and emotionally scarred, raising concerns over consumer protection in the digital economy.
Recently, a survey conducted by Go7eight, Tanzania’s social e-commerce platform which integrates user and seller verification with an escrow system to safeguard transactions, revealed that seven out of every 10 people in Tanzania have fallen victim to scams on social media or e-commerce platforms.
Alarmingly, eight out of 10 of these cases were reported to have occurred directly on social media, where oversight remains limited.
Globally, the issue is even more pressing. With more than 5.4 billion social media users worldwide, platforms have increasingly become a hub for scammers.
Alongside e-commerce fraud, such schemes are now ranked among the leading types of cybercrime, causing millions of dollars in financial losses and undermining trust in digital transactions.
Sharing her personal experience, Go7eight Manager Ms Jackline Malavanu recalled how, as a first-year university student in Tanzania, she lost Sh660,000 in a fraudulent online purchase.
She had hoped to buy a laptop advertised on social media platform after being redirected from social media. The vendor, claiming to be based in Dubai, listed the device for Sh250,000 while the same model sold locally for Sh1.7 million.
After wiring the money, she was asked to pay additional charges for alleged customs clearance and storage. When she later checked with DHL, the tracking number turned out to be fake.
“The offer was too good to be true, but I was also young and naive,” Jackline recalled.
Her ordeal is far from isolated. Many first-time online buyers find themselves drawn to unrealistic offers, often with devastating consequences.
The lack of buyer protection mechanisms, poor regulation of online transactions, and limited consumer awareness have combined to create fertile ground for fraudsters.
According to Go7eight, the problem is worsened by weak digital payment systems and platforms that fail to verify sellers before allowing them to transact.
Informal sellers who operate outside official registries further complicate enforcement, making it easy for scammers to set up and vanish undetected. Victims rarely report these cases due to shame, lack of knowledge, or mistrust of authorities.
“Even when cases are reported, investigations are slow, resources for cybercrime enforcement are limited, and jurisdictional ambiguities between agencies delay responses. The fast pace of online transactions also makes real-time intervention nearly impossible.”
The consequences stretch beyond individual financial losses. On a societal level, scams erode trust in digital platforms, discourage adoption of e-commerce, and stifle innovation.
According to the survey, analysts warn that unless addressed, the trend risks undermining Tanzania’s ability to participate fully in the digital economy, slowing growth and deterring entrepreneurs.
To tackle the problem, experts recommend several measures: raising consumer awareness on identifying suspicious offers, enforcing mandatory seller verification, and introducing secure payment systems where funds are only released once buyers confirm delivery.
“Regulators have also been urged to strengthen collaboration with social media and e-commerce platforms to swiftly detect and remove fraudulent accounts,” Go7eight suggests. Clearer laws and tougher penalties for online fraud are also seen as critical in deterring scammers and protecting consumers.
“Protecting consumers today will ensure confidence in e-commerce tomorrow,” said Ms Malavanu.
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