Mastercard to introduce AI fraud detection to African payment systems

Mastercard is partnering with the Mojaloop Foundation and AfricaNenda to bring AI fraud detection and dispute resolution to Africa’s account-to-account payment systems. This initiative addresses the structural problem that bank-to-bank transfers typically lack a standardized dispute process, meaning scammed transactions are usually final. The software, A2A Protect, uses AI to perform real-time risk scoring and track intermediary accounts used to move stolen funds. Mastercard plans to explore integrating this software into Mojaloop’s core infrastructure, though nothing has been committed yet.

The move aims to introduce card-style consumer protections directly into Africa’s instant bank-to-bank transfers. This addresses a significant gap in the continent's payment infrastructure, which processed nearly $2 trillion in 2024. By improving security and formalizing dispute resolution, the initiative could lower systemic risk across the continent's financial architecture.