During July 2026, Tahaqaq’s team documented 107 digital cases in which the identities of 14 Libyan banks were used. Monitoring revealed more organized patterns relying on paid advertisements, redirecting victims to WhatsApp and Messenger, and reusing pages and phone numbers—ultimately leading in some cases to fake banking interfaces and money-cashing-out schemes.
Why does this report matter?
This is the first report issued by Tahaqaq, which presents it as one of Libya’s first specialized reports on the systematic monitoring of digital banking fraud. Its importance comes amid a clear lack of public data and ongoing documentation that would make it possible to understand the scale of the phenomenon, compare its patterns, and monitor how it evolves over time.
Behind the report is a team that works around the clock every day on monitoring, documentation, and analysis, with the aim of turning scattered cases into data that reveals common patterns and helps explain how fraud methods change and how those behind them adapt.
Inside the Monitoring Unit
Fadia Al-Daghis, head of Tahaqaq’s Monitoring Unit, says: “What we monitor every day shows that fraud no longer depends on a single page or attempt, but rather on methods that are constantly changing. That is why we believe the response should not be limited to issuing warnings after an incident has occurred; what is needed is continuous monitoring, clear official banking channels, specific warnings about impersonating pages and advertisements, and a faster response when they are detected. The fewer spaces there are in which a fraudster can appear to be the bank, the harder it becomes to lure the customer.” She adds: “Awareness is important, but it is not enough on its own. We need what we monitor to be translated into practical measures that help prevent fraud before it reaches the customer, rather than merely explaining what happened afterward.”
Key recommendations
This vision is consistent with the report’s recommendations, which call for:
- Unifying banks’ official channels.
- Reducing reliance on messaging applications to provide services.
- Issuing specific warnings about impersonating pages instead of general warnings.
- Tightening controls on verification codes.
- Continuous monitoring and rapid escalation when sponsored advertisements impersonating banks appear.
The Beginning of a Process
The July report marks the beginning of this process for Tahaqaq—not merely to record cases, but to build a clearer cumulative picture of digital fraud in Libya: how it changes, where vulnerabilities emerge, and what can be done before an attempt turns into a loss.
