This article was originally published on Malawi24 ">Malawi24, Malawi's #1 independent news platform. MACRA has sounded the alarm over rising digital scams, warning Malawians to stay alert as fraudsters target mobile money, WhatsApp accounts and other digital financial services. In a public announcement, MACRA said fraudsters are increasingly using convincing messages, fake mobile money alerts and compromised social media accounts to trick unsuspecting people into sending money or […] Read the fu
MACRA has sounded the alarm over rising digital scams, warning Malawians to stay alert as fraudsters target mobile money, WhatsApp accounts and other digital financial services.
In a public announcement, MACRA said fraudsters are increasingly using convincing messages, fake mobile money alerts and compromised social media accounts to trick unsuspecting people into sending money or disclosing personal information.
The regulator has identified several common scams, including fake social cash transfer messages claiming that a beneficiary needs to make a payment or provide money to receive assistance.
MACRA has also warned against urgent requests for money from people claiming that their mobile money payment platform has failed and asking victims to send money to another number.
Other scams include unexpected requests to send money to unfamiliar mobile money numbers, fake SMS messages designed to look like genuine system-generated transaction alerts and fake competition prizes.
“Government entities and Civil Society Organisations involved in social cash transfer programmes do not communicate with beneficiaries through ordinary SMS or WhatsApp messages to request money,” MACRA said.
The authority also cautioned members of the public against falling for offers of “free money”, unexpected prizes or easy financial gains, saying fraudsters often exploit people’s financial difficulties and promises of quick money to gain their trust.
MACRA stressed that if a person did not enter a competition, they cannot genuinely win its prize.
“Members of the public should never send money simply because someone has asked them to do so through an unsolicited message or social media platform,” the regulator said.
MACRA further warned that fraudsters are increasingly taking over WhatsApp accounts and using them to send messages to friends, relatives and other contacts requesting money.
People whose WhatsApp accounts have been compromised have been advised to immediately warn their contacts, report any mobile money numbers being used by fraudsters to the relevant service provider and report the compromised account to WhatsApp.
The regulator urged the public to stop, check and verify before sending money.
It advised people not to rush when they receive urgent requests for money, to carefully examine messages and numbers, and to contact the alleged sender directly using their usual telephone number.
Members of the public have also been urged not to return money based solely on an SMS claiming that funds have been sent to their account, but to first confirm the transaction through the appropriate mobile money platform or by checking their account balance.
