As African businesses accelerate digital procurement and mobile payment systems, cybercriminals are shifting focus towards supply chains and supplier ecosystems.
Industry experts warn that cyber-fraud linked to procurement systems is expected to rise sharply in 2026 as organisations digitise operations faster than they strengthen governance and controls.
Why supply chains are becoming targets
Businesses across Africa are increasingly relying on:
- cloud-based procurement platforms
- automated supplier onboarding
- mobile payment systems
- digital supplier databases
While these technologies improve efficiency, they also create new vulnerabilities across supply chains.
According to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, 70% of organisations globally report experiencing fraud or economic crime, with cyber-enabled fraud among the fastest-growing categories.
The INTERPOL Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2025 also highlighted rising cybercrime activity across African markets.
Procurement teams now on the frontline
Paul Vos from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply says many organisations are scaling digital systems faster than they are strengthening internal controls.
According to Vos, cyber risk is no longer only an IT issue. Procurement teams are increasingly expected to manage supplier risk and strengthen verification processes.
Common cyber-fraud methods affecting businesses
Experts warn that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting procurement ecosystems through methods such as:
- business email compromise
- invoice redirection fraud
- fake supplier onboarding
- manipulation of banking details
Supplier networks are attractive targets because they often provide indirect access to financial systems and operational data.
Why governance gaps matter
Many organisations still rely heavily on IT departments to manage cyber threats.
However, procurement teams are often the first point of interaction with suppliers and vendors, making them critical to fraud prevention.
Industry leaders say many procurement professionals still lack the skills needed to identify cyber vulnerabilities across supplier ecosystems.
What businesses are being urged to do
Organisations are being encouraged to:
- strengthen supplier verification processes
- tighten payment controls
- improve cyber awareness training
- include cybersecurity requirements in supplier contracts
Experts say cyber resilience now depends on building stronger controls across the entire supply chain, rather than relying on isolated security measures.
Why this matters for Africa
Africa’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, particularly in procurement, logistics and mobile commerce.
As transaction volumes grow, cybercriminals are increasingly following these digital shifts, targeting operational systems instead of only traditional banking infrastructure.
This places added pressure on businesses to improve governance while scaling digital operations.
The bottom line
Cyber-fraud is becoming a growing risk within Africa’s procurement and supply chain environment.
As businesses accelerate digital transformation, experts say stronger governance, supplier verification and cyber awareness will become essential for protecting operations and financial systems.
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