A Kenyan woman running a small shop was left shocked after discovering that a cunning customer had secretly replaced her Pochi La Biashara number with his own.
The dishonest act was meant to trick customers into sending payments to the wrong person.
The shopkeeper, whose identity remains undisclosed, explained that the scheme was discovered when another customer came to purchase goods.
When the customer paid using the number displayed on the counter, the transaction revealed a different name—John Chege.
“She insisted that she had used the correct number as it was written. But when I checked, I realized the number was different from mine,” the shopkeeper narrated.
Upon further investigation, she found that someone had carefully stuck a new number over her original one, tricking customers into sending money to the fraudster. The revelation left her in shock, and she wondered how many people had already been conned.
After the story went viral, many Kenyans shared their experiences of similar fraud cases. Some admitted to losing large sums of money due to such tricks.
PrinceThe5th said: “Last year, I mistakenly sent KSh 100,000 to the wrong pay bill number. It was withdrawn immediately. I had no choice but to move on.”
Judy Wanjii shared: “It also happened to me in Eldoret. The money was withdrawn fast, and the fraudster denied everything.”
Ridge Simbaa joked: “Imagine if someone replaces the caretaker’s number and starts collecting rent!”
With cases of mobile money fraud on the rise, Safaricom has advised customers to be extra careful. To avoid falling victim to such scams, users should:
Confirm the Payment Details – Before completing any transaction, check that the name on the confirmation message matches the intended recipient.
Use Your Own Saved Contacts – Instead of relying on written numbers in public places, save official business numbers in your phone.
Report Suspicious Activities – If you suspect fraud, report it immediately to Safaricom through their SMS number 333 or via the Safaricom app.
By tuko