AI tool helps Airtel slash fraud cases by 56 percent
What you need to know:
- While the telecom sector remained stable overall during the quarter ending June 2025, Airtel’s transformation from high-risk to high-alert stands out as a potential model for the industry.
Dar es Salaam. Airtel Tanzania has achieved a significant breakthrough in the fight against mobile scams, reducing fraud cases by 56 percent following the launch of an artificial intelligence-powered spam alert system.
Once labelled the most fraud-targeted telecom operator in the country, Airtel has now repositioned itself as a leader in fraud prevention, thanks to Spam Alert 'Kataa Matapeli' Africa’s first AI-driven fraud detection and alert platform. Launched in the second quarter of 2025, the tool scans calls and messages in real time, alerting users to suspicious activity before they fall victim.
The initiative is part of the government-endorsed #SITAPELIKI campaign, which aims to strengthen digital safety for mobile users.
According to the latest report from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), Airtel’s reported fraud cases dropped from 5,876 in March to under 2,600 in June 2025, placing the company just behind TTCL, which recorded a 58 percent reduction.
“This is more than just a tech upgrade; it’s a signal that we’re listening to our customers and taking action,” said Airtel Tanzania’s Director of Corporate Communication and Regulatory Affairs, Ms Beatrice Singano. “The dramatic fall in fraud cases is a direct result of this focus.”
In contrast, other telecom operators are struggling to contain rising scam activity. TCRA data shows Halotel experienced a 67 percent increase in fraud cases during the same period, while Vodacom saw a 34 percent rise. Yas reported only a marginal decline of 0.2 percent.
Beyond protecting customers, Airtel’s success in fraud mitigation is expected to boost confidence in Airtel Money, its mobile financial platform. Although the company remains third in terms of mobile money user base and transaction volumes—behind Vodacom’s M-Pesa and Yas’s Mixx—the enhanced security profile could encourage greater adoption in the coming months.
While the telecom sector remained stable overall during the quarter ending June 2025, Airtel’s transformation from high-risk to high-alert stands out as a potential model for the industry.
“By leveraging cutting-edge AI tools and collaborating closely with regulators, we’ve shown that even the biggest challenges can be flipped into opportunities. This is only the beginning,” Singano told The Citizen.
