Safaricom, Kenya’s largest mobile operator, has fired 33 employees for engaging in fraud-related activities in the past year. The number of employees fired for fraud has increased by 37.5% from 24 in the previous year.
The telco says that the majority of the fraud cases involved SIM-swap, a type of fraud where a fraudster convinces a mobile operator that they are the genuine owner of a phone line. Once the fraudster has control of the phone line, they can use it to access the victim’s bank accounts and steal money.
Safaricom has a whistle-blowing policy that allows employees to report unethical or fraudulent behavior anonymously. The telco says that it is committed to rooting out fraud and protecting its customers.
How SIM-Swap Fraud Works
SIM-swap fraud is a type of identity theft that involves changing the SIM card associated with a mobile phone number. This can be done by convincing a mobile operator that you are the genuine owner of the phone number, or by hacking into the mobile operator’s systems.
Once the fraudster has control of the SIM card, they can use it to access the victim’s phone number and associated accounts. This can include bank accounts, social media accounts, and email accounts.
How to Protect Yourself from SIM-Swap Fraud
There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself from SIM-swap fraud:
- Be careful about what information you share online. Fraudsters often use social media to gather information about their victims.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts. 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring you to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password.
- Be wary of calls or emails from people claiming to be from your mobile operator. If you receive a call or email from someone claiming to be from your mobile operator, hang up and call the company directly to verify the authenticity of the request.
- Report any suspicious activity to your mobile operator. If you think that you may have been the victim of SIM-swap fraud, report it to your mobile operator immediately.
Safaricom’s Efforts to Combat Fraud
Safaricom has a number of measures in place to combat fraud, including:
- Proactive monitoring and digitizing solutions. Safaricom uses a variety of tools to monitor for suspicious activity and to digitize its processes, making it more difficult for fraudsters to succeed.
- A whistle-blowing policy. Safaricom has a whistle-blowing policy that allows employees to report unethical or fraudulent behavior anonymously.
- Education and awareness campaigns. Safaricom conducts education and awareness campaigns to help customers protect themselves from fraud.
Conclusion
SIM-swap fraud is a serious problem, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself. By being careful about what information you share online, enabling 2FA on your accounts, and being wary of calls or emails from people claiming to be from your mobile operator, you can help to protect yourself from this type of fraud.
If you think that you may have been the victim of SIM-swap fraud, report it to your mobile operator immediately. Safaricom and other mobile operators are committed to rooting out fraud and protecting their customers.
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