R97,000 SIM swap scam: MTN denies liability

Having read the whole article, I agree with MTN in saying that they are not liable for the ABSA account fraud. The OTP alone does not allow the hacker access to the account. They still need a username and password, too.

However, having said that, I think it's disgusting that they are so, nonchalant about the whole SIM-Swop fraud. That is their problem and they are responsible for that.

How does a staff member at the one store, have her account "hacked" 30 times and MTN have yet to suspend the account / do an official investigation??
 
I would like this to be tested in court. It would be very interesting to see the outcome.
 
MTN is full of sht. How the hell can they have procedures in place that allow for a SIM swap at a location where neither the customer nor his original documents are? Fire your god damn corrupt employee MTN for fck sake. Its pathetic that your client are having their lives ruined and fk all is being done about issues that are clear. Either you have a shtty employee at vereeinging or you have a shtty IT system that gets hacked once per day. Fix it ffs.

Only like 10 more months until I can cancel my damn MTN contract. I'll rather pay vodacoms crazy prices than deal with MTN's ***** again.
 
I am not a big fan of MTN - but they definitely are not liable for the bank fraud. The banks are responsible for their security and they cannot just "move" the responsibility to the cellphone network. MTN would have been responsible if somebody did a SIM swop and made R97,000 worth of calls. As it stands this crime is essentially wiretapping. If the bank phoned you on a landline and the thieves physically intercepted it by cutting the wire then nobody would say Telkom is responsible for the fraud.

Of course MTN needs to follow up on the actually SIM swaps as it relates to illegal interception of communication. Whether it is bank SMS, or even my private communication I am not happy that interception is so easy. For that reason MTN definitely needs to upgrade their security.

In terms of banks... I think the days of simple OTP is numbered. Maybe the SMS must require some interpretation which only the account holder can do. Or maybe we should all start carrying one time passwords on paper.
 
Typical **** attitude from MTN. Only 2 more months and I'll be done with Yellow scum forever
 
Actually, the stores that did that the sim-swap illegally should be held accountable..

I mean, this is one of the reasons, why we have to RICA our sim-cards these days. And clearly, even with the Sim-Swap, they should have gotten all the details from the people requesting it.

So, it's obvious that those MTN branches didn't even ask for identification when they gave out new sim cards - I mean, when I bought my new phone, (I'm prepaid), I had to change my Sim-card to a Micro-simcard at Vodacom (Instead of cutting it, they gave me a new one - so they basically did a sim swap)..
And it was such a mission, as they asked me for my ID, Proof of Residence etc etc - and guess what, my ID wasn't enough, cause they picked up that my simcard was still registered on my mothers name, so I had to go fetch my mum from home to come do this for me.... But, now after reading this Article, I'm glad our Vodacom shop did ask me for all those documents and are very specific on doing this things.

And concerning, the attitude from MTN, regarding their 'action' against this, I'll certainly make a mind-note not to go with them.. ever!
 
Last edited:
MTN compromises security of bank accounts.
Not liable.
 
Just don't use MTN, we all know they suck...
 
There are a few factors - the client login details point to the client and why this info was not kept safe. MTN did the swap wihout proper documentation. This puts them at fault too and should be held liable.
 
LOL Eddie Moyce u a funny guy.

“This is based on the fact that in order to commit a fraud on a customer’s bank account a fraudster must have a customer’s bank card/account number, Internet Banking PIN and password. Our courts have already held that a SIM-Swap does not in itself enable a fraudster to commit fraud on a customer’s bank account.”

funny if the sim wasn't swapped , then they wouldn't have got the OTP so no transaction no money loss
so by the sim swap happening via 1 of your MTN Branchs with no doc's, you MTN/branch enabled the crime to happen. so you are liable.

:)
 
Last edited:
magneto said:
LOL Eddie Moyce u a funny guy.

“This is based on the fact that in order to commit a fraud on a customer’s bank account a fraudster must have a customer’s bank card/account number, Internet Banking PIN and password. Our courts have already held that a SIM-Swap does not in itself enable a fraudster to commit fraud on a customer’s bank account.”

funny if the sim wasn't swapped , then they wouldn't have got the OTP so no transaction no money loss
so by the sim swap happening via 1 of your MTN Branchs with no doc's, you MTN/branch enabled the crime to happen. so you are liable.

:)
Click to expand...

Like ave said I would also like to see this tested in court.
 
HavocXphere said:
MTN is full of sht. How the hell can they have procedures in place that allow for a SIM swap at a location where neither the customer nor his original documents are? Fire your god damn corrupt employee MTN for fck sake. Its pathetic that your client are having their lives ruined and fk all is being done about issues that are clear. Either you have a shtty employee at vereeinging or you have a shtty IT system that gets hacked once per day. Fix it ffs.

Only like 10 more months until I can cancel my damn MTN contract. I'll rather pay vodacoms crazy prices than deal with MTN's ***** again.
Click to expand...

Mine ends June, woot then i am gone. Agreed MTN is just full of *****.
 
ronald911 said:
Actually, the stores that did that the sim-swap illegally should be held accountable..
Click to expand...
Aren't the stores franchised? This could put somebody out of business and all the staff will be out of a job.
Why should the store be responsible for MTN's poor security?
 
ronald911 said:
Actually, the stores that did that the sim-swap illegally should be held accountable..
Click to expand...

I had a conversation once with an MTN supervisor about some issue and I asked him who is held accountable, Unfortunately MTN does not know that word.
 
ginggs said:
Aren't the stores franchised? This could put somebody out of business and all the staff will be out of a job.
Why should the store be responsible for MTN's poor security?
Click to expand...

Is there not any documentation that needs to be presented when doing a sim swap like an ID book or some other proof of identification..?
 
Zenbaas said:
Is there not any documentation that needs to be presented when doing a sim swap like an ID book or some other proof of identification..?
Click to expand...
There should be, but MTN's system seems to allow the SIM swap to proceed without it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X