Safaricom PLC has been instituting changes to the M-Pesa overdraft facility Fuliza, including direct withdrawal from an agent shopSafaricom M-Pesa customers increased by 5.2% in the year ending March 2023 to hit 32.1 million usersThe continued growth of the facility and customer usage prompts cyber attacks on unsuspected customers The telecommunication firm set security measures to protect Kenyans from such attacks, but fraudsters continue to devise new tricks adapting to changes in technology
Fuliza has been significant in completing M-Pesa customer transactions in cases of limited funds since its inception in 2019.
Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa speaking during the release of the financial year 2022–23 results. Photo: Safaricom PLC.
Source: Twitter
The overdraft facility immensely contributed to the growth of M-Pesa, whose transaction value hit KSh 35.9 trillion in the year ending March 2023.
M-Pesa customers grew by 5.2% during the same year under review to reach 32.1 million, attributed to growth in Fuliza subscriptions.
Fuliza loan limit increase fraud
However, despite efforts levelled by Safaricom to improve the facility and protect customers from cases of mobile money fraud, fraudsters continue to devise new ways to con Kenyans.
The most common mobile money scam fraudsters use to con Kenyans is the claim to increase the Fuliza loan limit.
Scammers use various social platforms to share messages and screenshots to convince unsuspected customers.
Screengrab from Facebook showing the scammers trick about increasing the Fuliza loan.
Source: UGC
Safaricom dispensed fraud tips and cautionary messages to prevent customers from falling prey to such fraud.
The telecommunication firm continued to urge subscribers to report such cases via a free SMS to 333.
“When you (customer) receive such a call or message, kindly forward the number and the details via SMS to 333, which is toll-free. “The only way to increase your Fuliza limit is to continue using Safaricom services such as voice calls, SMS, data and M-PESA,” said Safaricom in response to TUKO.co.ke.
In a Facebook group post by Stacy Von – one of the fraudsters – the target victims are directed to send a message with the word Fuliza via WhatsApp to get their limit increased to KSh 60,000.
The post stated the amount unsuspected users should pay to have their Fuliza loan limit increased. In the case of growing the limit to KSh 60,000, one is required to pay KSh 1,400.
Another scammer, identified as Sharon Cherop, shared a message claiming to increase the limit to KSh 70,000.
TUKO.co.ke posed as a customer and reached out to Cherop via the WhatsApp number +254 768 992 931.
First, the scammer asked our current Fuliza limit, which we posted at KSh 1,500.
WhatsApp chats with fraudsters claiming to increase Fuliza limit.
Source: UGC
According to her, the amount we were to pay to upgrade our limit was KSh 100 and to send via M-Pesa.
Cherop promised that once we send the money, our limit would grow instantly – “Pay and receive if ready”.
The scammer demands as little as KSh 100.
Source: UGC
Asked about their staff/team and how they operate, she went silent up to the time of publishing this report.
Fuliza activation and limit
Safaricom noted Fuliza limit is allocated upon activation by a customer who has been active on the network for at least six months and based on their line’s activity.
Fuliza subscribers must repay their loans on time by topping up their M-PESA account.
In response to a customer who complained about a stagnant limit, the telco said continued use of the service will be vital.
Fuliza for small businesses
Despite these fraud cases, Safaricom continued to revamp the overdraft service to different customers.
The company introduced Fuliza ya Biashara service, available on the M-Pesa business, with customers required to activate it by dialling *234#.
The facility will allow business owners to complete transactions by overdrawing their accounts when they have insufficient funds in their M-Pesa Business tills.
The use of the service has been growing steadily since it was launched, with daily transactions surpassing KSh 1.4 billion.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
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