A new report has revealed that nearly eight in 10 Kenyan consumers were targeted by digital fraud attempts in the three months preceding a survey conducted in the second quarter of 2026.
According to TransUnion's Q2 2026 Consumer Pulse Study, 77% of respondents reported being targeted by fraud schemes through emails, online platforms, phone calls or text messages, highlighting the scale of digital security threats facing consumers.
The findings were released on Wednesday, October 14, amid growing reliance on digital platforms for financial transactions and communication.
The study also found that 9% of respondents reported falling victim to a digital fraud scheme, an improvement from 10% recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
Meanwhile, the proportion of consumers who reported being targeted but did not fall for the scams declined from 72% to 68% year-on-year.
The findings suggest that although fewer respondents reported falling victim to fraud, attempted scams remained widespread among those surveyed.
Gen Z Consumers Most Vulnerable
The report identified younger consumers as a particularly vulnerable group, with 12% of Gen Z respondents reporting that they had fallen victim to a digital fraud scheme.
The findings raise concerns about the risks facing younger consumers as they increasingly interact with digital platforms and financial services.
However, the report did not provide a breakdown of the specific fraud schemes responsible for the reported cases or the amounts lost by victims. The study also did not establish which communication channels accounted for the highest number of attempted scams.
How Kenyans Are Responding to Fraud Threats
TransUnion's findings showed that some consumers were taking steps to protect their personal information after learning that their identities or online accounts had been compromised.
Among respondents who had been notified in the preceding three months that their identity details or online accounts had been stolen, 57% said they changed the password on the affected account.
Another 54% reported updating passwords across their other accounts, while 46% said they checked their accounts for unauthorised activity.
The report further found that 72% of consumers had changed their passwords as a precautionary measure in response to cybersecurity concerns during the previous 60 days.
Half of the respondents said they had enabled passwordless login options or multi-factor authentication to strengthen their account security. Additionally, 36% reported reviewing their credit reports to identify potentially fraudulent activity.
These findings point to increased attention to account security among surveyed consumers, although they do not establish how effective the measures were in preventing fraud.
TransUnion Calls for Continued Consumer Education
Commenting on the findings, TransUnion Kenya Chief Executive Officer Morris Maina said consumers were taking steps to safeguard their financial information as digital adoption continued to grow.
"It’s encouraging that consumers are proactive about protecting their financial information," Maina said, adding "From strengthening account security to monitoring credit reports, Kenyans are taking meaningful steps to safeguard themselves against fraud. As digital adoption continues to grow, ongoing consumer education and fraud prevention solutions will remain critical to helping people participate in the economy with confidence."
The report comes as digital channels play an increasingly important role in how consumers access financial services and conduct transactions.
TransUnion's findings underscore the distinction between being targeted by a scam and actually losing money, with the majority of respondents reporting attempted fraud rather than successful victimisation.
