Nairobi — The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has warned of a new mobile phone scam scheme using trending offers like 'Terrific Tuesdays.'
Terrific Tuesday is a popular offer used by Pizza Inn where customers get to enjoy a terrific deal of 2 medium pizzas at Sh1,050 or 2 large pizzas at Sh1,300.
"If your person sends that random text asking for pizza money today, hit their dial to confirm you are sending money to the legit one," they stated.
The Amin Mohammed agency observed that several unsuspecting citizens have had their phones and social media accounts hacked into before the scammers send messages to the victim's friends and families requesting money.
The unsuspecting relatives and friends would be asked for money to buy things like food and other emergency needs to a number directed by the criminals.
More victims of the scheme that has seen fraudsters steal from innocent Kenyans causing public fury over the extraordinary rise of scamming.
The financial scam involves transferring control of the victim's phone account from their SIM card to a hacker's account.
According to a source who sought anonymity she narrates her experience terming the ordeal wasn't honey in my tongue.
"The experience was a terrible one having in mind that my office is a sensitive one I am a Pastor and so for the flock and many people to be put through the ordeal wasn't honey in my tongue," she said.
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She further noted that at the end of the day only one person lost a sum of Sh1500.
The source indicates Telecom lines are one too many that the conmen use like 20 numbers some unregistered which makes me question so much the safety and protection of the subscribers and the common mwananchi.
"Since they use the social media platforms it's so difficult to get help from the Telecom lines they just block the line but the social media platforms are beyond them," she stated.
The Sim Swap Fraud category is one of many that identity theft can be divided into.
In order to intercept alerts, one-time passwords, online banking profiles and transactions, as well as to modify account security settings, fraudsters will even register an existing number on a new SIM card.
Use strong passwords, keep personal information off social media, and make sure your SIM card has an active SIM lock in place in order to prevent this disastrous action.
Safaricom advises that users ensure their Sim card has an active Sim lock, use strong passwords, and avoid sharing personal information on social media.
Kenyans can also activate anti-swapping by dialing 100100#. This implies that you cannot swap your SIM card with an M-Pesa agent; instead, you must go to a Safaricom shop and present yourself physically
