How to Spot a Fake MoMo or Bank Payment Alert

Short answer: a fake alert is a text message designed to look like a payment notification. Never trust the SMS alone: check your actual MoMo or bank balance through the official menu or app before you release goods or send any "refund".

How the scam works

1. A "buyer" says they have paid and you receive an SMS that looks like a credit alert.
2. Or someone claims they sent money "by mistake" and asks you to send it back.
3. The message comes from an ordinary phone number, not your network or bank.
4. Your real balance has not changed, but you release the goods or send the "refund".

How to confirm a real payment

• Check your balance using your network's official MoMo menu or your bank app.
• Look at the sender: genuine alerts come from your provider, not a personal number.
• For "sent by mistake" claims, tell the person to ask their provider to reverse it. Do not send money yourself.
• Wait until the money is in your balance before handing over goods.

If you were tricked

Contact your MoMo provider, report to the Cyber Security Authority on 292, and report the number on TrustCheck. Sellers can also read our guide to Mobile Money fraud.