Someone says they sent mobile money to my number by mistake. What should I do?
Do not send anything back based on an SMS or a call. Check your real balance in the MTN MoMo or Airtel Money menu first. Often no money arrived at all, and the SMS was fake.
The scammer sends a fake SMS that looks like a MoMo or Airtel Money message, then calls in a panic asking you to return the money. If you do, you lose your own money.
If money really did arrive by mistake, the safe way is to let your provider handle the reversal.
What to do
- Check your balance by dialling the official menu, not by reading the SMS.
- Look at the sender: real messages come from the provider, not a normal number.
- Do not send money back yourself.
- If money really arrived, call your provider's customer care and let them reverse it.
Frequently asked questions
- The SMS looks exactly like a real one. How can I tell?
- Fake messages can copy the format perfectly. Only your balance in the official menu tells you what really arrived.
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