Nearly 5,800 Cybercrime Reports in Mauritius in Ten Months

Cybercrime is rising sharply in Mauritius, with 5,754 incidents reported between 1 January and 5 November 2026, according to official data from MAUCORS+, the Mauritian Cybercrime Online Reporting System. That works out to roughly 19 reports every single day.

Online harassment is the most common offence, accounting for 1,697 cases over the period. It is followed by cyberbullying with 761 cases, scams and fraud with 723, the spread of false information with 603, and identity theft with 438.

Authorities also recorded 225 cases of sextortion, a crime in which offenders threaten to publish intimate images of a victim unless demands, usually financial, are met. Most troubling among the figures are 61 cases involving the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

In response, the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation has launched a three-month national awareness campaign called "Kone ki pe poste! Lor rezo sosio", which translates roughly as "Know what you are posting on social media." The campaign is being run in partnership with the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), the Computer Emergency Response Team of Mauritius (CERT-MU), and the Mauritius Police Force.

The goal is to encourage more responsible use of social media platforms and to better protect internet users, particularly children and teenagers.

What this means for residents and families: anyone who experiences online harassment, fraud, impersonation or any other form of cybercrime in Mauritius can report it directly through the MAUCORS+ platform, which is the government's official digital reporting tool. Victims do not need to visit a police station to file an initial report. Parents are especially urged to talk to children about safe online behaviour, given the number of cases involving minors.

The figures underline a broader challenge for a small island nation where smartphone and social media use is widespread. Experts and authorities have consistently noted that many incidents go unreported, meaning the true scale of the problem is likely larger than official statistics suggest.

ICTA and CERT-MU are the two main public bodies overseeing digital safety in Mauritius. ICTA regulates the country's information and communications sector, while CERT-MU handles cybersecurity incidents and coordinates responses to online threats.

Residents looking to report an incident or learn more about digital safety can visit the MAUCORS+ platform online.

Source: ION News