04 Nov 2026

Some residents of Molepolole have lost more than P1.3 million to cybercriminals this year, raising concern over the growing threat of online fraud and the need for increased public awareness.

Detective Constable Segametsi Monaise of Molepolole Police Station revealed the figures during the Twantsho Botsotsi campaign, an initiative led by the Office of the President in partnership with Cybersmart Botswana, ABSA Bank Botswana and the Botswana Police Service.

She said the money involved in the current year fraud related cases had increased from approximately P638 000 recorded in 2025. 

Ms Monaise urged residents to remain vigilant, particularly as the festive season approaches, warning that criminals often took advantage of people who received money from savings such as motshelo and other financial arrangements.

“At this time of the year, criminals are sharpening their tactics because they know many people will be receiving money from motshelo contributions,” she cautioned.

She said people spent considerable time on their mobile phones but remained unaware of the risks associated with online activities. 

Ms Monaise highlighted cyberbullying, cyberstalking, offensive electronic communication and social media account hacking as some of the threats confronting the public.

She also warned that criminals were increasingly exploiting artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate images and impersonate individuals, including using fake endorsements to promote fraudulent financial schemes.

She explained that unsuspecting victims could be persuaded to pay upfront fees in anticipation of financial benefits that never materialised.

Meanwhile, Bakwena deputy chief, Kgosi Lawrence Mhaladi said the trusting nature of Batswana often made them vulnerable to people who presented themselves as well-wishers.

He traced the evolution of communication, from traditional methods such as smoke signals and horn blowing to letters, telephones and modern digital platforms, noting that criminals had adapted alongside technological advancements.

“In the past, people used smoke to communicate, followed by horn blowing, letters and telephones. Today, we have advanced technologies that improve service delivery, but criminals are exploiting these same tools to deceive people,” he said.

Kgosi Mhaladi disclosed that he had also fallen victim to cybercriminals who misused his image and social media accounts to advertise allegedly affordable rental properties without his knowledge.

He commended the Twantsho Botsotsi campaign for addressing a growing problem but expressed disappointment at the low attendance, saying community members needed such information to protect themselves against fraud.

Representing Cybersmart Botswana, Mr Mothusi Keorate echoed t Kgosi Mhaladi’s concerns, saying society’s increasing dependence on technology made digital literacy essential.

He said the public needed to understand how emerging technologies worked and how criminals exploited them to defraud unsuspecting users.

For his part, ABSA Bank Botswana forensic division representative, Mr Alfred Nthata, urged bank customers to avoid disclosing personal banking information to strangers or respond to suspicious requests received through telephone calls and social media.

He said cybercriminals often posed as successful businesspeople, tenderpreneurs or potential romantic partners to gain the trust of their victims before persuading them to transfer money into fraudulent accounts.

Mr Nthata also warned about account takeover scams, in which criminals impersonated legitimate businesses or retailers and manipulated victims into responding to messages or sharing information that enabled unauthorised access to their accounts.

He advised customers to verify suspicious requests directly with bank officials at their branches rather than relying on calls or social media communications.

Mr Nthata said banks sometimes contacted customers when they suspected fraudulent activity, but some clients ignore the warnings and proceed with transactions.

He added that victims were sometimes reluctant to report fraud because of embarrassment, allowing perpetrators to remain active and target more people.

“Some people would rather withdraw their money and deposit it at other cash outlets, where the bank cannot intervene. When they realise they have been defrauded, they become too embarrassed to report the matter,” he said.

He further cautioned against renting out bank accounts to strangers, explaining that such accounts could be used for money laundering, leaving the account holders exposed to the consequences when suspicious transactions were investigated.

Mr Nthata warned that cybercriminals continued to devise new ways of targeting people, making collective vigilance and timely reporting essential in the fight against digital fraud. ENDS