Kenyans lose KSh 491 million to SIM hijack scams
Kenyan mobile phone users have lost at least KSh 491 million to SIM hijacking scams, according to Techpoint Africa, in a wave of fraud that has drawn renewed attention to the security of the country’s mobile phone networks.
SIM hijacking, also known as SIM swap fraud, is a form of identity theft in which criminals convince a mobile operator to transfer a victim’s phone number to a SIM card under their own control. Once the transfer is complete, the legitimate user loses signal, and the fraudster begins receiving the victim’s calls, text messages and, crucially in Kenya, mobile money transaction prompts.
Kenya’s heavy reliance on mobile telephony makes the country a particularly attractive target. Mobile penetration has long outstripped the population, and services such as M-Pesa have made millions of Kenyans dependent on their phone numbers as the gateway to their bank accounts, savings and everyday transactions. The Communications Authority of Kenya, the industry’s regulator, has repeatedly warned that weaknesses in customer verification at retail outlets and agent shops are being exploited by organised fraud networks.
Typical cases involve fraudsters gathering personal details through phishing, social media scraping or by bribing retail agents, then walking into a mobile operator’s shop pretending to be the victim and requesting a replacement SIM. With control of the number, they can reset passwords on banking and mobile money applications and drain accounts before the victim notices the loss of service.
Industry bodies and consumer groups have urged Kenyan subscribers to set SIM PINs, avoid sharing personal information online and contact their operator immediately if their phone suddenly loses signal. As the losses mount, pressure is growing on mobile network operators to tighten identity verification procedures at their retail outlets across the country.
Sources
This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.
- Techpoint Africa — Kenyans lose KSh 491 million to SIM hijack scams
