Mobile Money Safety Concerns Grow in Dar es Salaam: Privacy at Risk
Dar es Salaam is experiencing mounting concerns over customer safety and privacy at mobile money agent outlets, where financial transactions often occur in vulnerable, public spaces.
Experts are calling for comprehensive training programs for mobile money agents, emphasizing critical security protocols. Key recommendations include prohibiting agents from requesting personal identification numbers (PINs) and ensuring transactions occur in secure, private environments.
Financial inclusion remains a primary goal, with mobile money services expanding access to financial tools for Tanzanians in underserved regions. However, the current operational model presents significant privacy challenges.
A comprehensive investigation revealed crowded agent shops in high-traffic areas like Kariakoo and Mbezi Luis, where customers frequently conduct transactions within earshot of numerous bystanders. Agents themselves acknowledge the difficulty of maintaining privacy in constrained spaces.
Unlike traditional banking infrastructure, mobile money outlets typically lack basic security measures such as surveillance cameras or protective barriers. This gap leaves millions of daily transactions potentially exposed to unauthorized observation.
Recent financial data highlights the sector’s rapid growth, with mobile money accounts reaching 68 million and total transactions exceeding 442 million. Despite this impressive expansion, security remains a critical concern.
Recommendations from financial experts include:
– Mandatory security training for agents
– Improved queue management
– Discreet transaction handling
– Enhanced cybersecurity awareness
– Customer service skill development
Financial authorities stress that while expanding digital financial services is crucial, individual customers must also exercise personal responsibility in selecting secure transaction environments.
The ongoing challenge requires collaborative efforts from agents, regulators, service providers, and customers to create a safer, more private mobile money ecosystem.
