MTN has warned customers to be aware of a SIM swap scam currently doing the rounds.  The telecommunications giant’s  spokesperson, Bridget Bhengu, warned customers about a scam where a supposed ‘MTN call centre agent’ contacts customers and requests their security details.

“This has happened before and we decided to make a statement after our call centre was bombarded with phone calls from customers who had been scammed.

“The scamsters phone on the pretext that they are blocking the processing of a SIM swap request that was made on the subscriber’s number without their knowledge or authorisation. They will then use the customer’s responses that they obtained during the call to perform a fraudulent SIM swap,” Bhengu said.

She added that the company would not contact them from its call centre to block the processing of a SIM swap request.

“There are a couple of SIM swap options available to customers. For post-paid, they can visit an MTN store to activate their it, an identity document will be required.

“For prepaid, it can be processed via a USSD code, call centre or by visiting an MTN store. When opting to visit an MTN store, an identity document will be required. Subscribers who choose to activate remotely will need to complete security questions,” explained Bhengu.

Bhengu said customers were urged not to respond to unsolicited calls and requests for their security details from an unknown number. She also assured customers that MTN will be sending text message to their customers to ensure that the word is spread.

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