Visa Study Finds 76% of Moroccans Trust Digital Payments as Security Awareness Rises

Mohammedia – Digital payments are becoming a normal part of life in Morocco, with consumers showing both confidence and caution. According to the latest Stay Secure study from Visa, 97% of Moroccans say they now take active steps to secure their online transactions.

This number is a sharp rise from earlier years and reflects how scams, phishing emails, and data breaches have made people more alert. At the same time, 74% of those surveyed expect to use digital payments more in the next 12 months, suggesting the trend is only growing stronger.

The study, carried out with Wakefield Research across 17 markets in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, highlights how Morocco fits into a global shift. The report found that 68% of Moroccan respondents feel confident they can recognize scams, while 46% say security is the top factor when choosing how to pay.

Although nearly half admit they know they could still fall victim to fraud, most are already ignoring suspicious requests, avoiding sharing personal details, and setting up SMS alerts for transactions.

Growing trust in digital payments

Despite constant reports of cybercrime, the majority of Moroccan consumers are leaning toward trust. Three out of four respondents said they mostly or completely believe in the security of digital payments, almost the same level of trust seen in countries where adoption is even more advanced.

This trust is linked to stronger protections such as codes sent by SMS or confirmation links from merchants, which make 82% of Moroccans feel more secure when completing an online purchase.

Leila Serhan, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for North Africa, Levant and Pakistan at Visa, highlighted that the findings show how Moroccan consumers are becoming more sophisticated.

“The latest edition of Visa’s Stay Secure study confirms the rise of a consumer base that is aware of security threats and actively protecting their digital transactions. This proactive approach, combined with high trust levels, shows the value and convenience of digital payments in Morocco. However, the threat of online scams remains real, and continued vigilance is crucial,” she said

Security precautions on the rise

Almost all Moroccan consumers — 97% — have taken at least one step to secure payments. Many monitor their accounts, use transaction alerts, or avoid answering suspicious emails and calls.

About 60% refuse to transfer money on someone else’s behalf, while 58% won’t share their card details with others. These habits are building a stronger defense against fraud.

Still, scams remain common. The study showed that 44% of Moroccans have personally fallen victim to fraud at least once, and 93% believe that their friends or family could be tricked by fake messages.

Fraudsters often pose as banks or companies warning of stolen passwords, blocked cards, or urgent data breaches. These tactics can push even cautious consumers to click on malicious links.

Visa’s role in safer payments

To strengthen this trust, Visa continues to invest heavily in security. Over the past decade, the company has put $3.3 billion into artificial intelligence and data infrastructure.

In 2024, Visa launched three new AI-powered tools to fight fraud, designed to stop scams in account-to-account payments, card-not-present transactions, and e-commerce.

According to the company, these tools helped block $40 billion in fraudulent payments and prevented 80 million fraudulent transactions in just one year.

Visa’s Stay Secure campaign is part of its annual push to raise awareness, offering guidance on how to identify red flags and avoid falling for social engineering tactics.

The message is clear: while digital payments are fast, convenient, and widely trusted, the responsibility for safe use is shared between companies, banks, merchants, and consumers themselves.