Unfortunately, phone scammers posing as Safaricom are widespread in Kenya and steal a lot of people of their hard-earned money. Even though Safaricom offers tools to assist you in recognizing official figures, mistakes might happen when things are tense.
For this reason, Safaricom has included a new feature to the MySafaricom app that allows you to confirm whether the number phoning you is, in fact, from Safaricom customer service.
- Prior to using the tool, keep in mind some typical telltale signs of dishonest callers:
- Requests that are urgent: Con artists instill a sense of urgency to make snap decisions.
- Requests for your M-PESA PIN: Safaricom agents will never ask for your PIN.
- Promises or threats: Phasing out promotions or threatening to sever your connection are typical strategies.
Now that you have that out of the way, let me show you how to determine whether the caller posing as someone from Safaricom is telling the truth or not. For this to function, you need to be using the MySafaricom app. You may get it for free from the Google Play Store if it isn’t already installed.
- Click the “Account” icon in the lower right corner of the MySafaricom app after opening it.
- Then, press on the “Report Fraud” area.
- Choose “Check if Safaricom is calling” from the four options that appear, then press “Next” to continue and confirm that the number contacting you is a legitimate Safaricom representative.
- On the following screen, input the disputed number and select “Submit.”
The software will instantly verify if the number is legitimate or a fraud once you submit the request. If the number isn’t Safaricom, report it right away by choosing the “Report a Conman” option in the same app section.
Extra safety advice
Safaricom’s official number is: 0722 000 000 is the only real number for customer service at Safaricom. If necessary, store it in your contacts. Until the contrary is demonstrated, the remaining must be considered scams.
Never divulge personal information: Never divulge your ID number, M-PESA PIN, or any other private information over the phone.
Put down the phone and confirm: Hang up and get in touch with Safaricom through their official channels if something doesn’t seem right.
You can protect others from these fraudulent schemes in addition to yourself by being alert, making use of the tools on the MySafaricom app, and reporting suspected activity. Be careful!