MTN MoMo Limited has stepped up efforts to combat mobile money fraud by introducing new security measures that block fake text messages designed to mimic official MTN communications.
Speaking at the launch of a new customer rewards promotion, Abdul-Majeed Rufai, Acting Chief Commercial Operations Officer of MTN MoMo, stressed that fraudsters often attempt to exploit promotional campaigns by sending deceptive messages to customers.
“Today, when it comes to the SMS that customers get, we block a number of messages that try to mimic official MTN MoMo communications. This ensures that such fraudulent messages never reach our customers,” Rufai said.
The new system automatically screens and blocks suspicious messages before they reach customers’ phones.
This measure is part of MTN MoMo’s wider anti-fraud strategy aimed at protecting customer funds and safeguarding trust in digital payments.
According to Rufai, fraudsters typically impersonate MTN staff or send fake prize notifications to trick customers into revealing sensitive information like PINs or one-time passwords (OTPs).
By blocking these messages at source, MTN aims to prevent scams before they happen.
MTN MoMo is complementing the technology with a nationwide fraud awareness campaign. This includes TV, radio, social media, and in-person community engagements delivered in local languages.
“We are taking education to the doorsteps of our customers in markets, communities, and using drama in local languages so that every customer understands how to protect themselves,” Rufai explained.
He reiterated that no MTN employee will ever call from any number other than 0244300000, and even when calls come from that official line, customers will never be asked for their PINs or OTPs.
Rufai noted that fraud attempts tend to spike during promotions, hence the need for both stronger systems and deeper customer awareness.
“We believe education is the most effective weapon in fighting fraud. With this new blocking system and ongoing awareness campaigns, we are showing customers that we are with them in this fight,” he said.
The push to curb cyber fraud comes as mobile money usage expands rapidly in Ghana, with millions relying on it for payments, savings, and transfers.
Protecting this ecosystem from fraudsters is critical to sustaining trust and encouraging adoption.
By combining technology, public education, and stricter customer verification measures, MTN MoMo hopes to make mobile money safer while rewarding customer loyalty through its ongoing promotional campaign, which runs until December 15, 2025.
