Orange Sierra Leone has launched a new scam alert and fraud reporting tool aimed at helping customers identify and report fraudulent calls, impersonation, phishing attempts, fake promotions and mobile money scams.

The new platform was launched on Thursday, August 13, at the Orange Digital Center on No. 1 Alpha Wurie Drive, Hill Station, Freetown, during an event attended by journalists, government representatives, regulators, civil society organizations and other stakeholders.

The launch comes amid growing concerns over fraud affecting telecommunications and digital financial services, as well as calls for stronger consumer protection and accountability within the sector. Parliament has also called on Orange Sierra Leone to appear for questioning over fraud-related issues affecting customers.

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Orange Sierra Leone said the new platform provides subscribers with a simple way to verify and report suspicious numbers, messages, promotions and other activities linked to fraud.

The company also warned customers against sharing sensitive security information with anyone claiming to represent Orange.

“Let me therefore be very clear: Orange should never ask the customer to disclose their Orange Money PIN, password, or security credentials,” the company’s CEO said during the launch.

The CEO said customers are increasingly being targeted through fake promotions, fraudulent calls, social media scams, phishing and impersonation, with fraudsters often attempting to obtain personal information or gain unauthorized access to Orange Money accounts.

Under the new system, customers who suspect fraudulent activity can dial *505# or call 111 to make a report.

According to Orange, the reporting mechanism will also help the company identify emerging fraud patterns, respond more quickly to reported incidents and strengthen collaboration with regulators and law enforcement agencies to combat fraudulent activities.

The National Consumer Protection Commission welcomed the initiative, describing scams and fraud as emerging risks within Sierra Leone’s growing digital marketplace.

The commission said fraudulent calls, messages, impersonation and phishing can result in financial losses while weakening public trust in legitimate telecommunications and digital financial services.

It added that consumer reports could provide valuable information for identifying emerging fraud patterns, repeat offenders and vulnerabilities within the digital ecosystem.

The commission called for stronger cooperation between Orange Sierra Leone, the NCPC, telecommunications regulators, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions and other stakeholders.

However, it cautioned that technology alone would not eliminate fraud, stressing that the effectiveness of the platform would depend on public awareness, accessibility, responsiveness and proper follow-up.

Alvin Donald T. E. Riddle, a VAPT Analyst at the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre, who represented the NC3 Coordinator, also welcomed the initiative.

Riddle said increasing the number of channels through which cyber threats can be reported would provide cybersecurity investigators with more information to assess and respond to potential threats.

He cautioned, however, that reports must be properly investigated to prevent the platform from being abused through false complaints aimed at having legitimate telephone numbers blocked.

He said thorough investigations would therefore be essential to maintaining the credibility and effectiveness of the reporting system.

The Financial Intelligence Agency also commended Orange Sierra Leone for the initiative, noting that while technology creates opportunities for financial inclusion, it can also provide new avenues for criminals to target unsuspecting members of the public.

The agency said it had received reports of fraudsters impersonating trusted individuals, compromising social media accounts and deceiving victims into transferring money through digital payment platforms.

According to the FIA, such activities can cause financial losses to individuals and businesses while undermining confidence in the financial system.

The agency urged the public to verify requests before sending money, exercise caution when responding to urgent appeals received through social media and messaging applications, and report suspicious activities through appropriate channels.

It emphasized that combating fraud requires cooperation among mobile network operators, financial institutions, regulators, law enforcement agencies and the public.

Representing civil society organizations, Williamam B.M. SAO-Lamin said the fight against digital fraud should involve the wider society rather than telecommunications companies alone.

He called for public education campaigns, digital literacy programmes and community engagement to help citizens recognize suspicious calls and messages, protect personal information and understand where to report suspected fraud.

SAO-Lamin also urged Orange to ensure that its reporting tools are accessible to people with limited digital literacy and vulnerable groups. He called for awareness campaigns to be extended beyond Freetown through radio, schools, community engagement and social media.

He said the launch should be viewed as the beginning of a sustained national effort to combat digital fraud rather than the end of the process.

Stakeholders at the event emphasized that protecting consumers from fraud is becoming increasingly important as mobile money, telecommunications and other digital services play a greater role in everyday economic activity.

Orange Sierra Leone said the initiative is intended not only to respond to reported cases of fraud but also to strengthen prevention, protect customers and help preserve public trust in Sierra Leone’s digital transformation and financial inclusion efforts.

The company urged subscribers to remain vigilant and use the newly introduced reporting channels whenever they encounter or suspect fraudulent activity.