I got an SMS saying I won a promotion or a betting jackpot. Is it real?
Almost certainly not. A real promotion doesn't ask you to pay a fee, send a code or call back an ordinary mobile number to receive your prize.
Fake promotion messages use the names of mobile networks, betting companies, supermarkets and radio stations. The "winner" is asked to pay a registration or processing fee, or to share a code.
If you didn't enter, you didn't win.
What to do
- Don't call back or reply.
- Never pay a fee to receive a prize.
- Check the promotion on the company's official website or social media page.
- Don't share PINs or codes.
- Report the number to Safaricom.
Frequently asked questions
- The message used my name. Is it more likely to be real?
- No. Names are easy to find. The fee is what gives it away.
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