A Kenyan businessman has taken to social media after a costly mistake involving mobile money left him frustrated. Mustapha Hassan, who runs a business in Nairobi, is seeking justice after accidentally sending money to the wrong number through M-Pesa.
According to Hassan, he had intended to send KSh 7,950 to his gardener on Tuesday, April 29. However, a slight mistake in dialing led to the funds being sent to a woman identified as Sabina Kagwiria.
“On Tuesday, April 29, at around 12:51pm, I mistakenly sent the money to a wrong number. I only discovered the error the next day when my worker asked why he hadn’t been paid,” Hassan explained in an interview.
Failed Refund and Rude Response
Upon realizing the mistake, Hassan said he contacted the recipient, who acknowledged receiving the money and even promised to reverse it. However, things took a turn when she claimed KSh 2,000 had already been deducted by Fuliza.
“She promised to send back the remaining amount by noon. But later, a man picked up the phone, insulted me, and told me to report to Safaricom,” Hassan added.
Despite visiting a Safaricom shop for assistance, Hassan said the money had already been withdrawn, leaving him no option but to file a report with the police.
Police Report Filed
Hassan confirmed that he had filed a report at the nearest police station, hoping authorities would intervene and help him recover the money.
“This is unfair. I had to pay my employee twice. I want the law to take its course and ensure the culprit is held accountable,” he said.
Safaricom’s Advice to Customers
Safaricom, which operates the M-Pesa platform, advised users to use the M-Pesa app to double-check recipient details before completing transactions.
“If money has already been withdrawn, the sender should report the matter to the police for further action,” Safaricom told TUKO.co.ke.
Caution on SIM Card Fraud
Separately, experts have warned Kenyans about rising cases of SIM card fraud and identity theft. According to cybersecurity consultant Allan Lwala, fraudsters often use personal identification details to register new SIM cards without consent.
Safaricom added that users will receive an alert via SMS from 707 if someone tries to register a line using their ID without permission.
