Mobile Money in Cameroon: between convenience and challenges 💰

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Mobile money has transformed Cameroonians’ financial habits. It offers an alternative to traditional banks by simplifying transactions. However, this convenience comes with high costs, risks of fraud, and frequent service disruptions. Between advantages and drawbacks, here’s what users think about it.

A service embedded in daily life📱

No Cameroonian can do without it anymore. Today, MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) and Orange Money (OM) have become essential. Thanks to them, paying bills, sending money, or making online purchases is effortless. It’s simpler and faster, avoiding long queues at banks and saving valuable time.

« I send money to my parents in the village without having to travel. It’s quick and easy. That wasn’t possible before. To send money, I either had to go there myself or wait for someone who was traveling, » says Carole, a user.

Moreover, even in markets and popular neighborhoods, merchants now accept mobile money payments. This reduces reliance on cash and makes tracking expenses easier.

« The only time I couldn’t pay with Orange Money was for street caramel. Otherwise, whether it’s a taxi, a supermarket, or a nightclub, electronic payment works. I no longer worry when I go shopping. Even in travel agencies, we pay with MoMo or OM, » says Fabrique, a user.

Fees often considered excessive💸

While mobile money simplifies life, it remains costly. Transfer and withdrawal fees frustrate many users. On top of that, the 2025 finance law introduced an additional charge of 4 FCFA for each withdrawal and transfer.

« When you want to send 50,000 FCFA, they already deduct a certain amount, plus the fees and the newly added 4 FCFA. If the recipient withdraws, they lose even more money. In the end, we lose too much, but it’s a necessary evil. They know it, which is why they keep increasing the fees, » laments Arnaud, a user.

As a result, some users try to bypass these fees by sending money as a bill payment, which is often cheaper. The merchant code and bill payment option help avoid transfer fees.

Scams and fraud: constant vigilance required ⚠️

Mobile money also attracts scammers. Fake agents, fraudulent messages, and transaction errors are common. More and more people mistakenly send money to the wrong recipient. Others have their accounts emptied after receiving a call and following remote instructions.

« I got a call from someone claiming to be from MoMo customer service. They asked for my code, and I almost fell into the trap. Luckily, I read a lot about these scams online. Fake mobile services are everywhere, » says Paul, a user.

Even though awareness campaigns exist, fraud remains widespread due to the lack of strict regulation and insufficient user education.

Recurring frustrations ⏳

Between network outages, slow transactions, and debit errors, complaints are frequent. Some days, the service is simply unavailable, blocking urgent payments.

« One time, I wanted to pay my electricity bill, but the service was down. I almost got disconnected. Sometimes, when there’s an issue, you end up making duplicate payments because you don’t receive confirmation messages, » shares Aline, a user.

Moreover, transaction limits complicate large operations, forcing some users to open multiple accounts or rely on traditional banks.

« MoMo and OM have transaction limits. We don’t really know the exact amount, but sometimes they send messages saying the monthly transaction limit has been reached. However, this only applies to account-to-account transfers. Deposits at kiosks still go through, » says Alain, a user.

What’s next for mobile money? 🚀

Despite these challenges, mobile money continues to grow with new services such as MoMo Kash loans, mobile savings, and salary payments. In the future, solutions like PayPal and Apple Pay adapted to the local market could emerge.

However, for mobile money to become a real economic asset rather than a burden, it is crucial to improve regulation, reduce costs, and strengthen transaction security.

What do you think ?
Do you use mobile money regularly? Has it ever saved you in a tricky situation? Share your experiences in the comments! ☺️