Africa-Press – Tanzania. Communication and consumer protection experts have applauded Airtel Tanzania for introducing a ground-breaking Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution aimed at shielding mobile users from rising incidents of fraud.
The newly launched Airtel Spam Alert – ‘Kataa Matapeli’ service, which uses AI to detect and flag suspicious messages in real time, has been described as a timely intervention amid growing concerns over digital fraud and the safety of mobile users, particularly in underserved regions.
Speaking during a recent stakeholders’ engagement in Dar es Salaam, Ms Mary Shayo, Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority Consumer Consultative Council (TCRA-CCC), noted that mobile fraud continues to pose serious threats to communication users, leading to financial losses and diminished public trust in digital systems.
“Fraud not only causes economic pain but also undermines trust in mobile services, which are now central to people’s economic, social, and professional lives,” she said.
Ms Shayo commended Airtel Tanzania for taking a proactive role in consumer protection, noting that the Spam Alert service aligns with the government’s ongoing campaign dubbed #SITAPELIKI, which seeks to raise awareness and curb digital crime through coordinated action with mobile network operators.
“This AI-powered service is a practical demonstration of innovation meeting consumer safety needs. It empowers users to identify scams before damage is done. Airtel’s efforts are laudable and support the national digital safety agenda,” she said.
Echoing similar sentiments, Mr Florence Mtuka, a representative from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology Consumer Consultative Council, said the innovation comes at a time when mobile phone penetration is rapidly increasing, including in rural areas.
“As more people transition from basic phones to smartphones, there is both greater access and heightened exposure to fraud. AI-driven tools like Spam Alert help bridge that gap and ensure digital inclusion does not compromise user safety,” Mtuka stated.
He added that fraud detection services will especially benefit users in low-literacy and remote areas, where understanding fraudulent messages can be more challenging.
The Spam Alert service, according to Airtel Tanzania, is designed to work on both smartphones and feature phones, giving it a broad user reach. The system relies on AI to assess messages based on patterns and historical scam data, thereby identifying and alerting customers of potential threats.
Airtel Tanzania’s Director of Corporate Communications ,Ms Beatrice Singano said that the company remains committed to working with the government and stakeholders in the fight against digital fraud.
“Our message is clear—Kataa Matapeli. Let’s all remain vigilant and educate one another. Customers should ensure their mobile lines are properly registered, and be aware that Airtel only communicates using the official number 100,” she said.
She urged mobile users to treat every suspicious message with caution and emphasised the role of continued public education, particularly as fraudsters constantly change tactics.
“This AI technology puts power in the hands of our customers. It allows them to judge whether a message is legitimate or not before acting. Together, we can make mobile technology not only inclusive and empowering, but also safe for every Tanzanian,” she said.
The Spam Alert initiative marks one of several steps taken by mobile service providers in supporting national efforts to build a safe, secure, and user-friendly digital ecosystem.
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