There has been a video doing rounds on social media of youths doing an Mpesa Message Generating scam. How do you beat and avoid these scammers?
The message scam is quite convincing. You might even think that you’re delaying the customer because of a delayed Mpesa Message on your end. And that’s the weakpoint they exploit. Don’t fold.
Always Trust Your Own Device.
Trusting a stranger who just bought thousands worth of goods over your own phone that has served you for months, probably years is a mistake. With the current happenings, even if it’s a Safaricom delay, it’s better to lose a customer than lose money.
Therefore, always wait for the message on your transacting phone. Let no customer tell you about checking his Mpesa Message on his/her phone. If the message is not on your phone, DON’T release goods.
Deal With Cash.
With the rise in charges for lipa na Mpesa services and the Pochi La Biashara, cash can save you from trouble and extra costs. Other businesses have Mpesa agents in the vicinity where customers withdraw to pay.
This can be killing two birds with one stone. As it saves you from fake message scamming, saves you from extra costs on wallets and gives you a shot at an extra Mpesa business.
Always Double Check Every Transaction
Double checking and confirming will sound boring and a waste of time till you realise it isn’t. Train yourself and your employees to double check every customer transaction before they release goods. This ensures that only genuine transactions get the goods.
Pro Tip:
A customer who is in a hurry should always be treated with caution. In as much as there are genuine customers who are late and in a hurry, the hurry-trick is the scam deal. They make you think you’re messing them up with the delay. And that’s where you get scammed.
Public transport is the most affected with this scam. Passengers generate messages, show them to the conductors and alight. When they check their balance later, it’s not adding up. Ensure you strictly encourage cash or confirm messages from your phone and not the customer’s. That’s how you beat the Mpesa Message Generating Scam.