The development of mobile technology has paved the way for Africa\u2019s fintech revolution where South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya account for 65.2% of Africa\u2019s fintech startups.<\/p>\n
According to reports, Africa\u2019s Fintech ecosystem has surged 60% in the last two years and the continent\u2019s Fintech firms have grown to 491 from 301 in 2017, with $132.8 million raised in 2018, making last year the sector\u2019s best year yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch fintechs have had a significant impact on the financial services landscape of these countries, where locally, these solutions are reaching more Kenyans than ever before,\u201d said Bethwel Opil, enterprise sales manager at Kaspersky in Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, Kenya has brought about practical fintech experiences making it one of the most financially inclusive countries in Africa and where mobile money transactions contribute a significant percentage to the country\u2019s GDP.\u201d<\/p>\n
Locally, many businesses and consumers are taking advantage of the ability to use digital methods to move money around. However, this emerging fintech space is also becoming an increasing target for cyber criminals.<\/p>\n
\u201cYoung startups are always more exposed than traditional businesses, and their undeveloped infrastructure, especially at startup stage, make them an easier target than traditional banks,\u201d said Opil.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdditionally, there are a growing number of businesses that are using or offering cryptocurrency and mobile money as payment methods and cyber criminals are embracing this trend, using sophisticated techniques to access funds.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rise of cyber attacks<\/strong><\/p>\n Operating over the Internet makes Fintechs vulnerable to technological problems and cybercrime and, while mobile payment methods offer a convenience that is hard to debate, the system is suffering a wave of attack.<\/p>\n SIM swap fraud is being used to not only steal credentials and capture one-time passwords (OTPs) sent via an SMS, but also to cause financial damage to victims by resetting the accounts and allowing fraudsters to access currency accounts not only in banks, but also in Fintechs and credit unions.<\/p>\n \u201cMost Fintech companies do not have proper defences in place to protect their services and their users against a data breach and the unregulated market doesn\u2019t make it easier,\u201d said Opil.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are also now seeing cyber criminals demanding ransoms in cryptocurrency given the anonymity of the market and the fact that there is little chance of being tracked.<\/p>\n “As a result, security education, awareness and ensuring that it is seen as a priority is critical as the fintech market grows.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Opil, there is also no substitute for vigilance \u2013 if something looks suspicious in any way, do not make the payment or investment.<\/p>\n Consumers who are using mobile cryptocurrency as an investment or payment method should also ensure that they verify the wallet\u2019s address.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t just follow links, double check everything before sending the transaction and make sure you use a high-quality security solution to safeguard the devices you use.\u201d<\/p>\n The fintech market in Africa will continue to grow \u2013 providing high growth potential and opportunities for investments, while simultaneously addressing the need for financial inclusion, said Kaspesky.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, like any growing digital economy, where there is opportunity, there are cyber criminals. And while cyber crime and the importance of security has certainly come to the fore, it needs to be a priority on the business agenda to ensure we can reap the benefits of a maturing fintech space,\u201d said Opil.<\/p>\n
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