The number of people who actually lost money also went up, from 8 per cent to 11 per cent.

Citing the report, The EastLeigh Voice estimates that each victim lost an average of $897, or about 116,000 Kenyan shillings, which indicates a growing financial burden caused by digital scams.

Online gaming, especially gambling and poker platforms, has emerged as the most affected sector in Kenya.

The rise in fraud comes as more young people engage with online games and betting platforms.

But this is not only peculiar in Kenya; globally, the gaming industry is among the top three sectors most hit by fraud, behind online forums and video gaming platforms.

Communities such as dating sites and discussion forums saw the highest rate of suspected fraud at 11.6 per cent in 2024, according to the report.

Fraud linked to gaming platforms rose by 20 per cent last year, while other areas, including logistics, jumped by over 100 per cent, government services, and financial institutions.

The most common method used by fraudsters in Kenya was smishing, which involves using fraudulent text messages that trick users into revealing personal details or clicking harmful links.

These messages often appear to come from trusted organisations, making them harder to detect.

TransUnion warns that fraud tactics are becoming more advanced, with criminals adapting quickly to new technologies and consumer habits.

She said removing gambling content from websites is relatively straightforward, as the ministry has the authority to block access to non-compliant sites, indicating that social media platforms, however, present more of a challenge due to jurisdictional and procedural barriers.

The ministry has introduced a system called the Content Moderation Compliance System (SAMAN), which channels complaints and findings about online gambling content to digital platforms responsible for reviewing the content and removing it if it breaches local regulations to address this issue.

She cited some challenges, stating that, between March and April, the first month of SAMAN's rollout, 214 gambling-related complaints were filed, but only 198 were resolved.

“Facebook has been recorded as the platform with the highest number of unaddressed complaints, with eight complaints left unresolved,” she added.

Online gambling remains illegal in Indonesia and remains a focus of government-led efforts to clean up digital spaces and protect users from financial and social harm.