As reported cases of SIM swap fraud continue to rise, Safaricom has taken steps to prevent such incidents by introducing a new measure that restricts SIM card swaps at M-Pesa agents.
According to Safaricom, customers can now block SIM swaps by dialing 100100# on their own line. This means that SIM swaps can only be done at Safaricom Shops or Care desks with a valid ID, or by calling Safaricom directly.
This move aims to reduce the chances of being defrauded by bad players, who may use M-Pesa agents to swap SIM cards without the customer's knowledge or consent.
While this new development may provide some relief to customers, it is still unclear whether it will be enough to prevent SIM swap fraud entirely.
As Safaricom continues to crack down on SIM swap fraud, customers are advised to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect their SIM cards and accounts.
How to block SIM swaps:
- Dial 100100# on your own line.
- Choose to leave the option to swap at agents open, and only dial when you receive an SMS of an attempted SIM Swap.
- After whitelisting, you can only replace your SIM card from a Safaricom Shop or Care desk with your ID, or by calling Safaricom.
- This works for both Post and Pre-pay customers, as confirmed by Safaricom's FAQ page.
