M-PESA scams
How to identify a fake M-PESA message in Kenya
Check whether an M-PESA message is genuine, handle reversal pressure safely, and use Safaricom's official reporting steps before sending money.
Updated 22 August 2026
Quick check
Got a suspicious number, Paybill, Till, email, website, or company name? Search it before sending money.
Check where the message came from
Safaricom says a genuine M-PESA message is sent from M-PESA, not from an ordinary customer's line. A message that copies the familiar format can still be fake, especially when it arrives from an unfamiliar phone number or is shown only as a screenshot.
Do not use the message alone as proof that money arrived. Open your own M-PESA transaction history and check your balance before taking any action.
Do not send a refund under pressure
A common reversal scam combines a fake or old payment message with an urgent call asking you to return money. Safaricom's published guidance says not to refund the caller directly. Ask the person to forward the message to 456 or contact Safaricom for assistance.
Do not visit an agent, dial a code, disclose your balance, or follow reversal instructions from an unknown caller. Safaricom states that its staff will not ask for your M-PESA PIN, SIM passcodes, passwords, or one-time codes.
Report the suspicious message through official channels
Safaricom advises customers to forward fake messages to 333 and to text 333 with details of the line that contacted them. If your PIN or account details may have been exposed, change the PIN and contact Safaricom promptly through a known official channel.
Safaricom's fraud-awareness page currently identifies 0722000000 as its outbound calling number. End suspicious calls and independently verify the contact rather than trusting the caller's display name.
Check the identifier and preserve safe evidence
Search the phone number, Paybill, Till, company, or website on ScamBusterKE. No reports does not prove that an identifier is safe, but existing evidence-backed reports can give you a reason to stop and verify further.
If you submit a community report, describe what happened and preserve the original message or receipt. Remove unrelated account balances, PINs, ID numbers, private contacts, and other sensitive information before sharing evidence publicly.
Help someone check before they pay
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