Orange Sierra Leone on Thursday, 13 August 2026, officially launched its *505# Scam Alert Reporting Tool and dedicated online reporting platform http://www.orange.sl/en/scamlandingpage.html to strengthen customer protection, combat fraud and improve public trust in the country’s growing digital ecosystem. The ceremony, held at the Orange Digital Centre office at Hill Station in Freetown, brought together representatives of Government, regulatory institutions, law-enforcement agencies, financial organisations, civil society and the telecommunications sector.
Orange Sierra Leone Chief Executive Officer, Aisha Touré, said the initiative comes amid rising digital adoption and increasing threats from online and mobile money fraud. Customers, she noted, are being targeted through fake promotions, fraudulent calls, phishing, social media scams and impersonation intended to obtain personal information or Orange Money credentials.
Aisha Touré said parliamentary discussions in July 2026 had highlighted digital fraud’s effects on citizens and confidence in financial services, prompting calls for stronger protection, awareness, accountability and institutional cooperation.
“At Orange Sierra Leone, we share this sense of urgency,” she said, stressing that fraud affects not only individual victims but also families, businesses, financial inclusion and confidence in the wider digital economy.
She disclosed that fraudsters had falsely presented themselves as Orange representatives and requested customers’ PINs, verification codes and other confidential information. Some customers had also received messages directing them to transfer money before claiming supposed promotional prizes.
Aisha Touré warned that Orange would never ask customers to disclose their Orange Money PINs, passwords or secret credentials. She said the new platform provides a simple mechanism for checking, verifying and reporting suspicious numbers, messages, promotions and transactions.
Reports submitted through the tool would also help Orange identify emerging patterns, respond rapidly and cooperate with regulators and security agencies to disrupt criminal activity. Aisha Touré described the initiative as an effort to protect livelihoods and preserve the trust required for digital transformation and financial inclusion.
“No single institution can win this fight alone,” Aisha Touré stated, urging customers never to share confidential credentials, to pause and verify suspicious information and to report doubtful activity. “Check, verify, report. Together we can protect our communities, strengthen trust in digital services and ensure that technology remains a force for progress and opportunity.”
Earlier, Orange Sierra Leone Customer Experience Director, David Mansaray, said fraud had directly or indirectly affected a large proportion of the population. People may have lost money, experienced an unsuccessful attempt or know somebody who had been targeted, he explained.
David Mansaray described digital fraud as a global, evolving problem, noting that WhatsApp and other messaging platforms were increasingly used to approach unsuspecting consumers. The tool, he said, would help customers identify, expose and escalate suspected fraud.
During a live demonstration, David Mansaray explained that customers could dial *505# and follow the USSD instructions to verify whether a number was associated with Orange or report a number suspected of fraudulent activity. The service is accessible through ordinary mobile telephones without internet connectivity or visit http://www.orange.sl/en/scamlandingpage.html.
Customers with internet access may also file complaints through the Scam Alert section of Orange Sierra Leone’s web portal, while those preferring telephone assistance can call the customer service line on 111. Reports received through any channel would be recorded and forwarded for investigation.
David Mansaray stressed that Orange would not automatically block a number merely because it had been reported. Investigators would verify complaints by analyzing transactions, calling patterns, devices and other indicators before deciding what action is appropriate.
He said early reporting could sometimes help recover transferred funds. When a fraudulent transaction is reported before the money is withdrawn or moved, Orange may be able to block the suspected number, trace the transfer and reverse it after completing the required verification.
David Mansaray warned customers not to misuse the platform for personal disputes or malicious allegations. Background checks would distinguish genuine complaints from false reports, he assured.
Alvin D.T.E. Riddle, Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing Analyst at the Cyber Coordination Centre, commended Orange for creating a channel through which cybersecurity incidents and intelligence could be reported.
He said reports generated through the platform could help specialists identify threats and determine appropriate action. Alvin D.T.E. Riddle nevertheless urged Orange to examine complaints carefully to prevent false reports from unfairly targeting individuals.
Accountability Now Executive Director, William Sao Lamin, called for a whole-of-society response involving telecommunications companies, regulators, financial institutions, law enforcement, civil society, the media and consumers.
He said civil society could promote digital literacy, education, advocacy and accountability, while public awareness should extend beyond urban centres through radio, schools, community engagements and social media.
William Sao Lamin said the launch should begin a sustained national campaign involving awareness programmes, information on emerging scams and opportunities for consumer feedback.
Bernadette Ballay Fullah, Consumer Relations Manager at the National Consumer Protection Commission, welcomed the tool as an important step towards protecting consumers from fake promotions, impersonation, phishing and unauthorized transactions.
She warned customers never to disclose PINs, passwords, one-time passwords or other security information. Suspicious requests, she advised, should always be checked through official channels.
Gerald C.D. Cole, Head of Legal, Regulatory and Compliance at Orange Money, said reported incidents represented only a fraction of attempted and successful scams because many victims remained silent through embarrassment, uncertainty or the belief that their losses were too small.
“Silence is not merely convenient for fraudsters; silence is part of their business model,” Gerald C.D. Cole said. He explained that criminals also exploited gaps among service providers, financial institutions, regulators and investigators, expecting separate pieces of information never to be connected.
Gerald C.D. Cole said telephone numbers, accounts, devices and transactions created digital trails which could expose wider criminal networks when reports were combined. The platform would reduce reporting difficulties, connect information and make fraud harder to sustain and more likely to attract consequences.
“Distance is not invisibility and anonymity is not immunity,” he warned, declaring that customers, operators, regulators and law-enforcement agencies formed one protective community. “This is our house and the house always wins.”
The initiative reflects Orange Sierra Leone’s commitment to reporting, investigation, collaboration and a safer digital environment for all customers.
