Kenya’s largest mobile operator Safaricom has moved to calm fears of a ‘customer information breach’.
Earlier this week, Safaricom subscribers received an SMS asking if they are members of three defunct banks and that if they are, they are then authorised to collect ‘their money’ from the Deposit Protection Fund Board (DPFB), a body under the Central Bank of Kenya.
The SMS read: “Were you a depositor in Trust Bank, Daima Bank or Fortune Finance? Contact DPFB for Payment at CBK Pension Hse, 2nd Flr, Harambee Av …”
Subsequently, the SMS forced Safaricom to clarify on why it was sent to its network subscribers only
Subscribers took to the company’s social media pages to address their fears and frustrations regarding the message.
Safaricom, though, in a statement said that they were authorised by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) “in the public’s interest” to send the message on behalf of DPFB.
The company said: “DPFB sought to reach out to the depositors through an SMS broadcast as they do not have mobile records of these depositors so that they can access their funds. The SMS Broadcast originates from Safaricom and therefore no customer data has been shared with any external party.”
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