MTN Ghana has reassured customers of the safety of its Mobile Money (MoMo) platform, stressing that fraud only occurs when subscribers disclose their personal identification numbers (PINs) or one-time passwords (OTPs) to criminals. The company says its systems remain secure and urged customers to treat their MoMo credentials with the same confidentiality as bank details.
Speaking at MTN’s Media Forum in Kumasi at the Lancaster Hotel, the General Manager for MTN’s Northern Business District, Nii Adotey Mingle, explained that fraudsters can only succeed if customers willingly give them access. “Nobody can defraud you without releasing your PIN number or code,” he said. He reminded customers that under no circumstance will MTN call subscribers to request their MoMo PIN or OTP, cautioning that any such request should be regarded as fraudulent.
Mr. Mingle urged the public to remain vigilant and resist the manipulative tactics of fraudsters who often pose as MTN staff or use social engineering to trick customers. He warned that negligence on the part of customers is the biggest risk to MoMo security and called on users to hang up and report suspicious calls immediately.
The forum also addressed concerns over SIM card pricing. MTN officials clarified that the official price of an MTN SIM card is GHC10 and cautioned consumers not to pay more than this approved fee. Mr. Mingle encouraged customers to challenge vendors who overcharge and report such cases to the police, insisting, “Do not aid them to do the wrong thing only to come to report. Don’t pay. Challenge the person and take steps to report them to the police.”
MTN’s position reflects its long-standing argument that MoMo fraud is not the result of system breaches but rather stems from customers being deceived into disclosing sensitive information. Past investigations have confirmed that fraudsters often rely on convincing victims to reveal their PINs, believing they are speaking with legitimate MTN representatives.
Despite continuous public education campaigns, MoMo fraud persists, though the situation has improved with the introduction of the Ghana Card for SIM registration and tighter industry regulations. MTN says it remains committed to fighting the menace through intensified awareness campaigns, stronger collaborations with law enforcement, and the use of technology to track and deter fraudsters.
Reiterating its commitment to customer protection, MTN Ghana assured the public that Mobile Money remains a secure and reliable platform when used responsibly. The company emphasized that ultimate safety lies in the hands of customers and reminded them once again: “We will never ask for your PIN or OTP.”
