[kictanet] MPESA - Need for Consumer Protection (Attn:Safaricom)

[Solomon Mburu]

This is serious.
If at all, there is a case of fraud in Safaricom (as expressed in this
email from Melissa), then it is high time the management cleared this
issue in order to win the dwindling public confidence.

I thought one cannot withdraw from any agent without proof of
identity, then how does one really access another person's account and
manage to withdraw money? I also understand that even if one came with
another person's ID, he cannot withdraw from such an account because
it is demanded he presents himself physically.

Since Michael Joseph is on-list, kindly shed some light on this matter

On 05/10/2009, melissa makokha <mmakokha at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Dear Safaricom MD
>
> My little cousin, an upright citizen working for African Alliance received
> KShs.40,000 in two tranches, first 25 then 15k while she was in Uganda on
> business. She is a non-registered user. She arrived in Kenya before the 7
> days expired ( period within which a non-registered user can withdraw cash)
> and was informed the money had  been withdrawn within two days at 3 points -
> Nakumatt Lifestyle and in Naivasha on the 1st day and thirdly in Mombasa.
>
> The amounts were withdrawn by a fraudster named Grace Mumbi Muriithi.  This
> fraudster visited a safaricom dealer, swapped my cousin's sim card and
> registered her fraudulent name. My cousin has had the line for 5 years. When
> you log in the safaricom database for users, my cousin is the user of the
> line, and this fraudster Grace is the MPESA registered user.
>
> Before you start, no, my cousin did not give anyone her PUK or PIN number
> and NO, she is not trying to defraud Safaricom. She has reported to the
> Safaricom office and of course was sent to the police to report the matter.
> She reported the same to Central Police Station. The police informed her
> that they have received similar cases of even larger amounts, KShs.50,000,
> 75,000 etc....but that Safaricom has not given them further facilities or
> support to investigate and the police do not know of any case that has been
> solved.
>
> Dear MD, perhaps this sounds like a million other cases that you have
> heard.....my cousin is being shoved back and forth by safaricom customer
> care ...you have also received an email to this effect....We hope you will
> assist in having such fraudulent cases investigated.  My little cousin has
> suffered irreparable harm and injury to her feelings....and her wallet! We
> do not understand how another party can swap a sim, register an MPESA
> account with a different name from the user name without Safaricom customer
> care agents knowing or picking it up.
>
> We hope Safaricom solves this issue. We hope my little  cousin is fully
> compensated by Safaricom...Whether it does or not....word has already began
> spreading out, at least to our family. We will use Postapay for the time
> being.....
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Catherine Adeya <elizaslider at yahoo.com>
> To: mmakokha at yahoo.com
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Sent: Mon, October 5, 2009 2:51:06 PM
> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Consumer Protection - Safaricom
>
>
> Wamuyu,
>
> I may be wrong but I think it is the way you borrow money from a bank and
> you have to pay interest or something like that. I think this service is
> sort of a loan.........................so I guess your  issue is whether the
> Kshs 5 is too much but charging something is within their right ( I may get
> hollered at for this). Another case in point is even those market women who
> loan maybe 500 shs from the market 'loan sharks' and have to pay back an
> extra 50 shs at the end of the day when they return the money.
>
> Anyway I am sure there will be more people on the list who can advice, I
> have a few clues on where to report but do not want to write so
> authoritatively.
>
> And Alex....congratulations are in order!
>
> Nyaki
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Wamuyu Gatheru <wamuyulearn at yahoo.co.uk>
> To: elizaslider at yahoo.com
> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> Sent: Sun, October 4, 2009 3:50:35 PM
> Subject: [kictanet] Consumer Protection - Safaricom
>
>
> Dear Listers,
>
> Am a Consultant in Public Sector Governance who finds this list a most
> informative one ...a good example of how to dialogue for policy making.
>
> I have a question. Where do I complain about Safaricom charging a Kshs 5 fee
> for their Kshs 50 credit advance service. Is this common in pricing? - For a
> company to charge a fee on a payment  made to them?
>
> regards, Wamuyu
>
>
>


-- 
Solomon Mburu
P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi
Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041

Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all
the same way to the side of a hill!

AND

It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity!


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