12th October, 2012
In an effort to arrest the growing trend of identity theft in the telecommunications sector, MTN Nigeria has introduced a 16-digit security number solution that would make it impossible for hackers and scammers to clone or control subscriber’s identity with intent to commit fraud using a mobile phone line.
Re-launching the MTN Security Number, which had been in existence before, Customer Relations Executive for MTN, Mr. Akin Braithwaite, said the motive behind the fresh campaign for security number, was to let the customer know that MTN cherished their comfort on the network, since they were the reason for the continuous existence of MTN as a telecoms company in Nigeria.
The security number, according to Braithwaite, would protect all MTN customers’ data on the MTN network, in such a way that thieves would no longer commit crime of impersonation against any subscriber on the MTN network, who has fully registered his or her SIM card.
MTN, he said, has had several cases of identity theft, where people pretend to be the owners of other customers’ lines, do SIM swap on them and use the SIM to commit crimes unknown to the actual SIM owner. Some, he said, steal customer details under false pretence. He explained that the security number would address all of that and keep customers in a comfortable zone, where thieves would no longer have access to their SIM cards.
Speaking on how it works, Braithwaite said: “The solution works with 16-digit numbers. Eleven digits are the customer ID, generated by the network, while the other four digits are the customer secret number that is generated by the customer and known only to the customer.” He explained that customers would be asked to either provide the 16-digit numbers or only the four digit number, while trying to make SIM swap or when contacting customer care line.
General Manager, Corporate Communications, Funmi Omogbenigun, said the secret number plan was already being sent across to customers, but advised customers who are yet to receive their secret number to demand for it from any MTN store or by calling the customer care line number 180.
For security reasons, the secret number will be pushed to customers phones through SMS, or to their e-mail address on request.
—Henry Ojelu