Telecommunication giant Safaricom has come out to warn their subscribers and users against fraudsters who steal from their accounts through SIM swap.
Sim swap is the process of replacing one’s lost mobile number. Many subscribers have been conned in fraudulent swaps.
This came after, Safaricom asked subscribers to take precaution by keeping their Personal Identifiable Information (PIN) a personal secret.
According to a statement released by Safaricom director for risk management Nicholas Mulila, “As a precautionary measure against social engineering, enabled by sharing of personal details, we would like to remind our customers to safeguard information such as SIM and M-Pesa PINs, dates of birth and national ID numbers.”
Mulila asked subscribers to be wary of callers purporting to be the company’s customer care representatives. He asked customers to immediately end such calls and contact the firm’s customer care.
While carrying out a sim swap alot of personal information is requiredthis includes, one to present their ID, sim PIN, last top up amount and other details including the most recent mobile money transactions as well as the last numbers the subscriber dialed orrecent calls.
Sim swaps often happen when a subscriber loses their phone, mostly to retain their phone number for convenience.
This warning came as soon as a subscriber complained online that his sim had been swapped without his knowledge.
Taking to his social media account Twitter, @sammy_ynwa said that, “I’m a victim of a scam that happened to me yesterday [Thursday]. I got a call and I quickly realised it was a con before I disconnected without sharing any information,”
He further explained that he did not give any personnal details but his SIM card was swapped without anyways.
He further added saying he had never lost his ID or SIM card before neither does he give his private information unnecessarily. “Someone targeted me. Someone who knows my M-Pesa transaction. It was not a random attack.”
Sammy said he received a message from Safaricom notifying him that the firm had received his SIM swap request, b ut as cautious as it should be he contacted Safaricom immediatelt via their twitter handle and assured him that his line was safe.
This triggered more subscriber to come out and said the fraud had happened to them too same case with Sammy they did not even reveal their personal details.
Conmen are calling unsuspecting Kenyans after which they top up the line being targeted and request for the user’s PUK number. Once they have the required information, they move to replace the line after which they attain full access of the user’s digital wallet and mobile banking platforms.
Another victim from Mombasa John Ndinya admitted to have received a call from his bank notifying him of suspicious transactions after the fraudsters had swapped his sim.
John Ndinya @jndinya said, “I reported the matter to @DCI_Kenya Mombasa. I was told if it’s Safaricom, there’s nothing they can do. I felt helpless.”
Wakesho Mwagae @EileenWakesho said a conman called her and asked how many times she had registered her line.
“When I told him off and pretended that I work with Safaricom, he went and asked me to give him subscribers ID and phone numbers at a cost of Sh3,000. He said that is what they do,” said Mwagae.
Mwangi Njunge @Mwangi_Njunge said his sister lost Sh15,000 in a similar fraud.
The Communication Authority of Kenya on Thursday cautioned Kenyans against revealing their Personal Identifiable Information (PIN) including mobile money PIN, National ID and SIM card PIN.
The regulator said such details allow fraudsters to access people’s mobile accounts.
Safaricom has now said they are now working with all security agencies to solve the fraudulent issue.