This archive report was first published on 24 January 2022.
Published on January 24, 2022, Safaricom's Fuliza service has been a game-changer for many Kenyans, allowing them to complete transactions even when their M-PESA accounts are low on funds. However, a new wave of scammers has emerged, preying on innocent customers with promises of increased Fuliza limits.
These scammers use social media channels and groups to target their victims, often using fake promises of higher credit limits and convincing them to part with their personal details and processing fees. But the truth is, Fuliza limits are automatically generated based on a customer's transaction history, and cannot be manually upgraded.
According to Safaricom, no one has the authority to increase a customer's Fuliza limit, and those listed on the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) typically have a limit of 0.00. Despite this, scammers continue to deceive their victims, often using different phone numbers and registration details to avoid detection.
As one victim noted, the scammers would often gain their trust by telling them that many others were waiting for the same service, and would block them once they had sent the processing fee. Safaricom has urged customers to be cautious and to only rely on official communication from the company.
