Someone says they sent mobile money to my number by mistake and wants it back. Is it a scam?
Very often it is a scam. The "payment" SMS is fake and no money arrived, or the money came from a stolen account and will be reversed. Check your real balance and never send money back yourself; let your provider handle it.
The scammer sends a fake SMS that looks like a mobile money confirmation, then calls in a friendly or desperate voice. If you send the "difference", your own money is gone.
What to do
- Check your real balance in the app or with your provider's menu, not the SMS.
- Look at the sender: real confirmations come from the provider, not from an ordinary phone number.
- Do not send any money back yourself.
- Tell the person to contact their provider to reverse it.
- Call your own provider's official customer care if you are unsure.
Frequently asked questions
- The money really is in my account. What now?
- Call your provider's official customer care and ask them to reverse it. That way you are protected if the money was stolen.
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