Internet fraud, particularly in the financial and online banking
sector, is on the rise in Africa as more people have access to
online banking services and mobile banking.
To try and combat the issue, African countries are taking steps
to increase awareness and understanding of internet safety to
ensure consumers avoid the risks of online fraud. For example, the
Communications Commission of Kenya has set out an exercise to
educate consumers on cyber-crime and other threats posed by the
expected increase in Internet usage that will come as a result of
cheaper bandwidth and the growth in online banking services.
To date, South Africa has been the main target for cyber
criminals due to its more mature online banking market, but there
are fears that as online spending becomes more widely available
across the entire continent, that more consumers could become the
victim of identity theft online.
Ukash protects online consumers from internet fraud by
providing them with the opportunity to make online payments to shop
and play online, securely and privately, using cash on thousands of
websites throughout the world. www.Ukash.com. The Ukash offer also appeals to the
large unbanked community, who are prohibited from shopping online
as they do not have access to debit and credit cards.
In 2008, Ukash® established a strategic
partnership with South African payments giant Blue Label Telecoms
to develop the brand's services. Uniquely numbered
Ukash® vouchers are widely available through
payment terminals in retail outlets across Europe and South
Africa.