By Amadou Manjang
On a warm morning in Brikama, Isatou Sanyang, 34, received a message from a Facebook friend who promised to send her goods for resale if she sent him money upfront. Trusting the offer, she sent $50, then another €150 after more demands, only to realize she had been scammed.
In Bakau, Nyima Manjang, 30, fell victim to a phishing attack when an anonymous number tricked her into sharing her Wave PIN. The scammer drained her account within minutes. “It took me a while to understand what was going on,” Nyima said. “Every time someone sent me money, it disappeared before I could even check.”
Isatou and Nyima are among a growing number of Gambians losing money to online scams and cyber fraud, a crime wave spreading rapidly across the country.
Cybercrimes such as phishing attacks, online scams, and ransomware are now common in The Gambia. According to the 2025 Africa Cyber Crime Assessment, the continent loses over $3 billion annually to cybercrime. The Gambia ranks among the top 20 African countries hit by ransomware, with 1,729 incidents detected in 2024.
Data from Kaspersky shows a 29% rise in scam notifications in The Gambia between 2023 and 2024. Experts attribute this surge to rapid digitalization and the growing number of internet users.
As of early 2025, 1.28 million Gambians, about 46% of the population, were active internet users, while 449,000 were on social media, according to DataReportal. The country also had over 3.15 million mobile connections, surpassing its total population.
The rise in connectivity has also brought a surge in cybercrime cases. Although convictions are increasing, many incidents go unreported due to fear, shame, or lack of awareness.
One of the most alarming incidents occurred in May 2024, when hackers breached the Central Bank of The Gambia, compromising a server and allegedly stealing two terabytes of sensitive data. The attack exposed the country’s fragile digital infrastructure.
In September 2024, over 100 foreign nationals — including Chinese and Nigerian citizens, were convicted for computer-related offences, including data theft, fraud, and forgery. Each was fined D20,000 or sentenced to two months in prison.
The Gambia Police Force has been praised for cracking down on cybercrime but continues to face major obstacles. Police PRO Momodou Sisawo said the main challenges are the absence of specific cyber laws and low digital literacy among the public.
“Most of our prosecutions rely on general laws that are not designed for cyber offences,” he explained. “And many Gambians are not aware of basic digital security practices.”
To address these gaps, the National Assembly passed the Personal Data Protection and Privacy Bill, 2025, which awaits presidential assent. The bill seeks to safeguard citizens’ personal information and strengthen privacy rights amid growing cyber threats.
Advocacy group Paradigm Initiative (PIN) hailed the bill as a milestone. “The Gambia is joining a growing number of African nations taking proactive steps to guarantee digital privacy,” PIN stated. “While the Constitution recognizes the right to privacy, there was no comprehensive legal framework to protect citizens from data misuse.”
Mohamed Khan, CEO of CASAI Cyber Security Awareness Initiative, warned that cybercrime in The Gambia is “no longer a distant issue, it’s here, and it’s growing.”
He cited rising cases of phishing, SIM swap fraud, identity theft, and mobile money scams. “These threats compromise not just your privacy, but your financial security, reputation, and peace of mind,” he said.
Khan urged Gambians to strengthen digital hygiene, avoid sharing personal information online, and verify suspicious messages before acting. “We must all learn to defend and reclaim control over our digital lives,” he said.
As The Gambia races toward a digital future, experts agree: without stronger laws, awareness, and security systems, the country’s digital gains could quickly turn into vulnerabilities.
