The biggest telco in Kenya Safaricom has introduced a new security feature to enable its customers to protect themselves against unauthorised SIM swaps.

The move comes after many cases of unauthorised SIM swaps and mobile money wallet thefts were reported across the country.

Mobile service providers are yet to disclose the official data of how many of their customers have been victims of mobile scams.

According to Safaricom, the service insures the only way a subscriber can have his line replaced is by visiting an authorised Safaricom shop or customer care desk with their relevant documents.

“This is a service that ensures that a customer’s line/SIM card can only be replaced by visiting a Safaricom Shop or Care desk with your ID, or by calling Safaricom customer care,” Safaricom said.

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Customers can whitelist their sim cards by dialling *100*100# on their mobile devices and ensure that only they can initiate a SIM swap.

Scammers often apply the technique in which they impersonate a customer care agent from a mobile service provider pretending to shield a subscriber from an impending danger before asking for personal details for smooth service.

In case the scammers are lucky enough to get those details from a subscriber, they use the details to perform a sim swap and empty the victims’ accounts.

The new security feature will curb the rising cases of fraud.