MTN warns of SIM swap scam

Fiel picture: Mike Hutchings/Reuters

Fiel picture: Mike Hutchings/Reuters

Published Jul 18, 2017

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Kimberley - MTN has warned customers to be aware of a scam currently doing the rounds.

MTN spokesperson, Bridget Bhengu, said on Monday that in the scam, a supposed MTN call centre agent contacted customers and requested the customer’s security details.

“The scamsters phone on the 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.

“The scammers will then use the customer’s responses that they obtained during the call to perform a fraudulent SIM swap,” Bhengu said.

She added that customers should know that MTN would not contact customers from its call centre to block the processing of a SIM swap request.

“When performing a SIM swap, customers have a couple of options available to them. For post-paid, customers are required to visit a MTN store to activate their SIM swap, and they will be required to produce an identity document.

“For prepaid, customers are able to process a SIM swap via a USSD code, call centre or by visiting a MTN store. When opting to visit a MTN store, subscribers will be required to produce an identity document. Subscribers who choose to activate remotely will be required to complete security questions.”

Bhengu added that customers were urged not to respond to unsolicited calls and requests for their security details from an unknown number.

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