The use of digital payments is on the rise and about 74% of consumers expect to use them more in the next 12 months. The convenience of mobile banking apps, e-commerce transactions, and contactless payments is helping to drive this change. With this growth, online scams present a challenge as they are becoming more sophisticated and target unsuspecting consumers.
The Visa Stay Secure Study 2025 shared some insights into how scams have evolved over the years. It shares how consumers perceive trust in digital payment and why digital transactions are gaining popularity in Africa.
Despite increased awareness, fraudsters keep changing their tactics. According to the study:
- 52% of consumers have fallen victim to a scam with 16% experiencing fraud multiple times.
- Kenya (71%) has the highest percentage of scam victims in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is followed by Côte d’Ivoire (66%) and Nigeria (64%).
- Consumers are still likely to fall for scams related to fake security alerts like:
- Emails warning of stolen passwords or data breach (39%).
- Notices about a blocked credit card (35%).
- Too-good-to-be-true financial opportunities (33%).
All is not lost as there is some progress. In 2023, 44% of respondents were likely to click on scam emails related to financial opportunities. In 2025, this number dropped to 33%. This shows that the awareness efforts are paying off.
Trust in Digital Payments is Strong
Even with the increased number of threats. People still have trust in digital payments:
- 76% of consumers mostly or completely trust digital payments.
- 83% feel more secure when required to enter a verification code via text or click a link from a vendor to confirm their identity.
- 48% find reassurance in security badges or trusted payment symbols when shopping online.
Consumers who are more knowledgeable about fraud tend to trust government-run payment programs. The study by Visa revealed that 51% of these consumers prefer such programs if they partner with well-known brands such as Visa.
Digital Payments Are Taking Over
As more people prefer digital transactions, there are emerging payments that consumers prefer:
- Bank transfers via mobile apps (62%) are the most common digital payment method.
- E-commerce transactions (54%) and mobile payments (49%) are also widely used.
- Mobile payments are popular in the UAE and Ukraine with 67% accounting for credit/debit card online payments. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kazakhstan see 66% accounting for mobile payments through apps or QR codes.
Digital payments are also popular in Kenya and Nigeria. Ease of use, convince and speed are some of the major reasons consumers in these countries embrace digital payments
With the digital payments revolution, some benefits such as convenience and efficiency make them more appealing. However, the rising cases of fraud show that there is a need for consumers to be vigilant.
Consumers should implement stronger security measures such as:
- Enabling transaction alerts for real-time monitoring.
- Avoid opening suspicious emails or links.
- Using multi-factor authentication for their online payments.
Businesses and financial institutions should think of enhancing fraud detection methods, strengthening consumer education priority and investing in cybersecurity measures.
Now Read: Visa Introduces ‘Tap to Add Card’ in East Africa for Faster and Secure Digital Payments
