Fraudsters target MTN subscribers
MTN has issued a warning for all its users regarding an ongoing scam by fake staff members.
Mobile network giant, MTN, has alerted its subscribers to the recurring phone calls made by fraudsters who claim to be working for MTN call centres.
The unsuspecting subscribers fall victim to bogus calls about SIM swaps, revealing personal details such as identity numbers and phone PIN numbers. Once this crucial information has been obtained by the tricksters, they can get access to sensitive information such as subscribers’ banking details.
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MTN urges its users to be vigilant, and remember that MTN will not call its customers from their call centre to block the processing of a SIM swap request.
One Krugersdorp MTN subscriber, Joseph Ngwenya, noticed, several days after receiving such a call, that a certain amount of money was missing from his airtime and then he received a notification from his bank informing him that money had been withdrawn from his bank account.
“I am now opening a new bank account and changing my cellphone number,” said Joseph.
Once criminals have access to your identity number, it is easier for them to acquire your bank details and ultimately get their hands on your money.
There are two options available to subscribers when performing a SIM swap. Pre-paid customers can process a SIM swap via a USSD code, or the call centre or by visiting a MTN store. Post-paid users are required to visit an MTN store to activate their SIM swap, and they will be required to produce an identity document.
MTN has urged its users not to respond to uninvited calls and requests for their security details from unknown numbers.
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