M-PESA scams

M-PESA reversal scam warning signs in Kenya

Reversal scams use fake urgency and copied SMS formats to make you send money before checking your actual M-PESA balance and transaction history.

How reversal scams usually work

You receive a message or call claiming money was sent to you by mistake, followed by pressure to send it back immediately.

The message may look like an M-PESA SMS, but screenshots and copied text are easy to fake.

Check your actual M-PESA balance and transaction history. Do not rely on a forwarded screenshot or SMS-style message.

If a number pressures you, search it on ScamBusterKE and contact Safaricom through official support channels.

Only act after checking your real M-PESA transaction history. If you did not receive money, do not send anything back.

They can imitate SMS formats in screenshots or copied messages. Verify inside your M-PESA account, not from a message alone.

Use these guides to confirm who actually sent or will receive the money before you act.

Use Safaricom's official guidance to verify messages, resist reversal pressure, and report suspicious lines.

Verify the displayed recipient name and independently confirm the business details before entering your PIN.

Paybill safety

Search any suspicious identifier, then report it if you have evidence that can warn others.