Anew report by the Communication Risk Information Centre (COMRiC) has revealed that telecommunications-linked fraud is costing South Africa R5.3-billion a year, with nearly 60% of mobile banking fraud linked to SIM swap crimes.
The ‘Telecommunications Sector Report 2025’, deemed a landmark publication during COMRiC’s five-year journey as a leading industry body focused on crime and risk intelligence in the telecommunications sector, highlights a surge in criminal activity targeting both digital systems and physical infrastructure.
Cyberattacks increased by 126% globally and fraud in South African telecommunications-linked transactions rose by 78% from 2022 to 2023.
Infrastructure sabotage continues to inflict billions in economic damage, destabilising network uptime, emergency services and national connectivity.
“As COMRiC enters its sixth year, its role as a convenor, watchdog and strategic partner in telecom resilience is more vital than ever. With stronger collaboration, improved compliance and public education, the sector has a real opportunity to turn the tide and to protect the networks that power South Africa’s digital economy.”
COMRiC further urged the enforcement of biometric RICA compliance and a regulatory crackdown on pre-RICA’d SIM cards, which are currently linked to over 60% of telecommunications-related extortion cases.
The report also cited successful anti-fraud strategies implemented in countries like Ghana, Tanzania and Uzbekistan, where SIM box fraud has dropped by as much as 80% owing to real-time traffic monitoring systems, stricter registration laws and regulatory collaboration.