Benson Kariuki of 0723587757.
Nairobi, Kenya
Fun, ingenuity, reality and irreality in Nairobi
#MPesatheft is rampant in Kenya and there seems to be no way to stop it. Safaricom previously implemented automatic transaction reversals when a customer reported having sent money to the wrong number, but our ingenious thieves then started recalling money they had paid to merchants and Safaricom had to stop the service. The thugs won….I don’t think so!!!
BECAUSE, you and I are about to do something about this menace.
You have, at least once, sent money to the wrong number. Before this incident, I had too. I accidentally bought someone phone credit worth 200/-. I texted said person and asked them politely to return the money. I got no reply, and at the time, felt that there was nothing I could do. Besides, I had heard of people losing 15000/-, 20,000/-, money they desperately needed for medical emergencies or school fees. 200/- did not seem like much then.
But last Sunday when I accidentally sent several thousands to a number belonging to one Benson Kariuki, my stomach fell to my feet. This wasn’t 200/-. I immediately called the MPesa line provided by Safaricom. Please give me a moment to bash the stupidity of our largest telecom. SOOOOO SO STUPID SAFARICOM. While my money was laying in some stranger’s account, Safaricom’s robot lady was telling me about all the services she can offer. Took two tries to get through to customer care, where again I had to provide a list of details before the young man on the line declared, “Sorry Madam, inaonekana amesha-withdraw.”
I remember shouting, “What? what? what?” as the young man calmly (and might I add, insensitively) asked if there was anything else he could do for me and then hang up unceremoniously.
Ten minutes. Ten small minutes, is all the time it took Benson Kariuki to run to the nearest MPesa agent and withdraw money he knew was not his. And all Safaricom could say to me was go to the police and report the theft, they know what to do. Can the police find Benson Kariuki? Please raise your hand if you think this possible?
At this juncture, you must be wondering, “What the hell CAN WE DO, Makena?” We can stop being victims and start sharing this post like a problem. It is time we said NO, and created our own protection system against MPesa theft.
In Kenya, we are at the mercy of MPesa thieves, pickpockets, muggers, the police, the city council etc. We are hard at the business of bargaining with various kinds of thieves. The matatu conductors who somehow forget to give back your change until you ask for it with a stern face; the government employees who need a small “thank you” for providing a copy of the one piece of paper you need to fill; the guys who “help” you push your car when you are stuck somewhere; the armed robber who rapes your daughter and wife and draws a gun to blow your brains away and last but not least, our elected officials who threaten to paralyze our country if we don’t pay them such and such amount.
Are you tired of bargaining with thieves? I am. After that unhelpful phonecall with Safaricom, I texted the following to Benson Kariuki at his number 0723587757
I am giving you one hour to return the money you just withdrew illegally from my account. After that I will report your details tot he police, Just you wait…
I then called Safaricom and asked for his ID number. And of course, they said no, which is good because I know my privacy is equally protected. But I already had an idea. My second text to Benson Kariuki read:
Counting down. After reporting you to the police, I will put your details on twitter and facebook. Then I will make a youtube video and make sure you can’t get a job or do business anywhere. Someone who knows you will eventually bring me to your house. Hide somewhere deep my friend. Very deep.
This was the text that got Benson, who had previously switched off his phone, to call me back. He was pissed off. Very. I mean, I had made a mistake, sending him my money, so why had I not called him and politely asked that he return it??? What? Guy, you went and stole my money then switched off your phone. Hello, did you hear the part “You stole my money.” He said he would think about returning it and hang up.
He called again and shouted and hang up at least 3 times before he finally sent me part of the money, claiming that the rest had been deducted by Safaricom Customer Care. I did call Safaricom again to confirm that this was not the case. A different young man said to me, ” He has returned that much, you are okay, you should be happy. Many of them never return it.” I gave him an earful of msomo. So this is the attitude at Safaricom–good to know…
No, as I said to Benson, I am not satisfied with recovering part of my money. I want every single last cent back. And this is non-negotiable and should be non-negotiable for all of us.
My last text to Benson Kariuki was a clear explanation of the consequences of having his name on social media:
These charges you are claiming Safaricom has withdrawn do not exist. I have spoken to customer care. I want back all my money. And be warned that once your name starts circulating on social media, I won’t be able to stop it. You will end up on T.V. and radio.
Benson’s response, and I quote: “Do whatever you want. Let’s see what you can do.”
What can I do? What can you do? Share this post with your Kenyan friends and encourage them to share with their friends.
Benson Kariuki lives in Kenya, and Kenya isn’t that big. We have to find him, we absolutely must. This will be a signal to him and to all others like him, who have at one point or another committed MPesa theft, that there is no anonymity in the crowd. Someone who knows someone who knows someone you know, also knows Benson Kariuki of 0723587757. Let’s show him and others like him that we can do something about MPesa theft. Every share of this post will
- establish a CITIZENS’ protection system against mobile transfers fraud. Henceforth, you’ll only have to post the name and number of your MPesa thief on social media, and he/she will be found.
- send Safaricom a strong signal that it must find a viable system of protecting its clients from theft. (Something as simple as letting our mobile phones pick up the recipient’s name in that last check before we hit send for MPesa).
DO SOMETHING about MPesa theft. Turn Benson Kariuki into a hashtag by sharing this post with your friends. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any thoughts about MPesa theft. Or join the facebook group Project Mpesa Thief
Reblogged this on daimamunene and commented:
Together against mobile money theft.
be careful the number you are sending money to, you are partly to blame..,
So your partly to blame when your walking in the streets and a junkie steals your phone yea? just because your phone was on your ear?
you sound lyk a thief yourself, what, with all the excuses u r offering on behalf of the Benson`s of this world!!! nktsk
That’s no excuse. You SHOULD return money that does not belong to you. It’s like the matatu conductors who DELIBERATELY withhold a customer’s balance simply because he/she has forgotten about it.
The fact that the money does not belong to Benson means that he SHOULD return it, otherwise Makena is right to call him a thief.
Well, you did make a mistake and it sucks that he took advantage of that. But come on, calling him an M-pesa theif, is like forgetting your camera somewhere, coming back to find that it’s gone, and then say that person robbed you.
Check the number you are sending to a few times before you send, common sense!
Pico, I am sure the guy who walks into your house and robs you because the door was open isn’t a thief at all. Just someone who wandered in to see what’s in there. I made a mistake, not doubt about it. Benson Kariuki made an even bigger one. Thanks
Good job Makena. The time to do something is now!
Commendable Job! Most Kenyans have fallen victims to such thieves and or the uncooperative/unethical/unprofessional Safaricom call care representatives, while some are good, others are worst thieves. Who knows, they could be aiding and abating such MPESA thieves.
While most of us choose to go silent about this,I am happy we have such a courageous person to shame and name the thieves.
I am impressed and will share this everywhere even in the wall street on my way home.
Have you tagged the media houses?
This is great. I’ve just reblogged this on my blog. Am sure we’ll get somewhere.
I remember the day very well, September 22, 2011; sent cash to wrong number; actually was depositing Kshs 9,500/= to my number; Agent got the number wrong instead of 0722—110, agent captured 0722—117. Time was 15:48pm, tried to call a customer care at Safari-com, “how annoying the way conversation begins, Remember the conversation is being recorded for quality purpose” I pleaded with one Kirui to reverse the transaction, only for him to tell me,”M-pesa services are experiencing low network busses, whatever that meant, kept on trying till around 16:10pm when eventually am told that the money is already with drawn by one Kevin Omolo Omolo, and there is nothing can be done, how devastating.
Though still a frequent user of the services, I felt so let down by Safari com, going to police, they told me only if I can take them to the culprit, then can they act. For heaven sake how can I locate owner of the number who could be anywhere within the jurisdiction of Safari com network, gave it up, till when I read your article
POLE BRO
We lost money for medical emergency the same way. Mom accidentally typed in 0722 instead of 0721 and just like that, the money was gone. We tried to reach the person and kindly ask him to return the money but he arrogantly responded that it wasn’t his fault and he would enjoy every bit of it. Sad.
upgrade your sim card and you will be surprised on how things have changed instead of blaming everyone else but yourself.
Anonymous, I am not blaming anyone. I made a mistake. Benson Kariuki made a bigger one. I am sure you’ve heard that two wrongs don’t make a right. I am trying to correct the situation for both of us.
Makena, you don`t need to defend yourself against those who r trying 2 make u feel guilty, even institutions lyk banks make mistakes n request cleints to help them reverse 2 prevent being blacklisted. the complainers have probably withdrawn someone`s money and r being defensive.
Thanks for your support Vinya. Much appreciated
Make a all these ignoramuses telling you how u are blaming others. Forget them. I bet if they were in ur shoes they would not be so quick to make such careless and heartless comments. U absolutely are doing the right thing. Honesty is the best policy. If it’s not yours and you have a way of making good on it just return the damn money or whatever it is u find. Your payback will b lots more than the anguish u cause. Just imagine if this hooligan had given u back ur money? This would be a totally different discussion highlighting the goodness of our fellow citizens. Shame on him and all those that even for a second think this is ur fault.
You don’t need to defend yourself against these idiots who are speaking as if they’ve never made a mistake! If you lose your wallet and someone makes use of its contents, then he’s a thief! Period!I hope you manage to make this spineless thief thoroughly regret his actions.Best regards.
Maybe you would understand the predicament she is in, if you had experienced this kind of problem for yourself. One cannot provide such a service and then NOT have mechanisms put in place to mitigate the damage if things like these happen. You’re kept waiting for about 15 mins after your third try, you only have some “Sophie” on the other end of the line who is not interested in your moment of stupidity and is not willing to hep either – and this is your only “paramedic”
Ur ignorant for making such unkind comments.
Your rude tone would make one believe that you may have stolen someone’s money in that manner. If there’s an upgrade of SIM card that she wasn’t aware of, is she to blame? Quit trying to justify theft. If money does not belong to you, the HONOURABLE thing is to return it, whether the person was at fault or not!
It’s like saying, “upgrade your barbed wire fence to an electric fence and you will be surprised at how robbers will keep off……..You have yourself to blame for have a simple barbed wire fence….”
I wonder which law exists to prosecute Benson Kariuki for accepting money from a random sender and using it.
If you could only get the ID number. considering especially that one can register more than one line. I have a Benson Kariuki for a brother. He is not the one though, I know.
you should be more carefull. i am sure you took a shortcut like tried to memorise the number or entered the number while distracted. what if you were a banker and wired the money to the wrong account cause you were thinking of the past or future and not concentrating on the task at hand. or a surgeon who took off a patients leg. maybe its a lesson on being meticulous. you should be thanking this Benson guy it was not something serious.
Daniel, I have no thanks what so ever for Benson Kariuki. No I will not leave in a Kenya of thanking thieves. Be they the muggers on our streets or our high officials. I will not feel grateful to be in just a good enough country when a better country is at large. Kenyans we need to fight for ourselves.
And besides, if I made this error with my bank, they would absolutely correct the matter. Not sure where the surgeon comes in. Benson Kariuki isn’t a small thing, he is a very serious problem that is plaguing our society, left, right, center.
someone shud tell safaricom we already know the services they offer n we dont need that machine sing it ton us again.. they waste pple’s time making it convinient for the thieves to steal.
Pole Sana jo i feel it has happened to me too, with all the billions being minted at Safaricom you would think they would put back some of fit to fixing such small problems with systems like mpesa.
Kariuki and other Kariukis out there got to get warned..though i have never experienced that kind of thing,i can imagine how it hurts.safaricom should up their game in combatin such crime.They didnt get on the MPESA platform and lack the technical knowhow of dealin with such kariukis.
also its time they tell us what happens to money in one’s mpesa account once he or she dies..now that many people keep their PINS secret.
Can I also mulika a shipping agency Victroy Shipping agency that has not returned my container deposit for a year now since I relocated??? I completely agree with you…we should not stand by and let people tell us….”This is Kenya!” So Alex Okemwa of Victory Cargo…..umemulikwa!!!!! I have had it too!!!!
Gd job Makena. Did u get the details of where he withdrew the money? if for example it is River Road, then u just put his details around that area and voila u may get “someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone you know, also knows Benson Kariuki of 0723587757″
I think the bigger enemy in this situation is Mpesa and SafariCom – they have failed the Kenyan public by providing top security measures for its customers. And the largest of all is the Kenyan gov’t for not forcing Safaricom to do something.The Kenyan public has been faithful with their loyalty and support to their business – the best thing is look to other service providers. Safaricom needs to be shown that they need to step up their game. UNTHINKABLE – in other countries, this kind of thing wouldn’t fly. Why should we allow it? The executives and public officials will do nothing until it affect their lives (money and public image). You wanna do something – target these people in the media, boycott Safaricom services, or find other ways to transfer cash
A really simply thing that Safaricom could do is
1) implement a delay of say 30 min before which one can withdraw, send or otherwise touch the amount received.
2) have an automated way of reversing transactions.
Not everyone will take up the newer simcards.
first n foremost , fuck safaricom. yes fuck these cheap ass thieves. then, this other cheap thief who is stupid enough not to understand the power of social media especially in tha hands of idle pple like me. i mean, if u wanna steal, the least u can do is b intelligent n aware. last bt nt least, fuck the bogus, annoying, fraudelent, chocking, irritating, disgusting pieces of shit safaricom calls customer care . bure kabisa
Kindly readers and commentators the best way to avoid this painful experience is to upgrade your sim-card where you can select the receiver
This is not very viable for people who have more phone numbers. You can only select numbers from the sim card not phone memory. It doesn’t help much. I have received money wrongly but i normally call the person and refund less sending charges.
We have a culture where being honest is considered as a weakness. I remember one time i did a withdrawal but didn’t collect the cash, the next day i went there and they gave me the 1k i had withdrawn. That’s the kind of people God will always bless abundantly.
This Benson Kariuki of 0723587757 is an example of many Kenyans who are opportunists who wait for people to make mistakes.
hahahaha!!Wow!this one made my day!!!totally!!I like….
90% of smart phones are NOT storing contacts on simcard and safaricom still uses this analogue method of getting simcard contacts !!!! please safaricom update that system to catpture only contacts stored on clients phones and disable manual imput of Telephone number on Mpesa menu …that way you can send money to wrong number but it is stored in your phone book!!
love the idea make sure you tag the media houses
Good on you Makena! I just wish other Kenyans would be as committed as you are in exposing wrong and pursuing what is right. What is sadder about your experience and others like it are the callous comments and attitudes from those who are not appalled by the behavior of the Benson Kariuki’s of this world. The biggest problem in Kenya is a total lack of upright moral values. Then we begin to wonder why we have the kind of leaders we do and why Kenya is a lawless state.
Maybe we should start texting this thief and telling we know he is a thief. Lol… I agree two wrongs don’t make a right. But also, how do we police ourselves and make sure this kind of action/counter action isn’t abused… For instance, cases fuelled by malice? Brainstorming needed.
Benson kariuki hana makosa……..he never withdrew money from your account, he did from his own account. neither did he still from you. you could have requested politely for reimbursement, na angekurudishia….sasa ukianza matusi haikusaidii….ningekua benson si ngerudisha hata ndururu until u apologies. furthermore he can sue you for defamation, how do we know ulimlipa deni then u start such kind of romous ama mlikosania mahali and you trying to turnish his name, or may be a business contract that he is your competitor ….there are so many possibilities just know that.
next time when sending money take care….
You make a valid point, Ric. I have considered all the points you have put forward. And I have felt scared to face this man, but I didn’t let that fear keep me down, because if I did, Benson Kariuki would walk free. He can come forward and tell his side of the story. I am ready to deal with the consequences of my actions; he clearly didn’t think things through before withdrawing my money.
i agree 100%
This is the problem with 3rd grade technology. I wouldn’t use mpesa if it was the last option on earth. I’m old fashioned, thats why I never use my phone except to call, text. When you start transferring money in such easy ways, of course thieves and hackers will follow. Write a check, withdraw atm or wire from your bank. Has worked for years before mpesa came along. My friends think I’m not into technology but I work too darn hard for my money… case in point, stop using technology then complaining when u make a mistake.
There is nothing wrong with tech, June and no don’t use it if you don’t want to. I am trying to make a great thing better, instead of waiting for things to happen on their own.
Another important part of the problem is society’s attitude.Notice how many people are concentrating on blaming you for sending the money to the wrong recipient, or openly justifying theft.This is why a large number of our social ills will continue to plague us-we treat such behaviour like something normal!
And this is what I am trying to combat, an attitude that we have to bargain with thieves.
I agree with vinya, we all make mistakes n nobody is perfect! If u feel that makena is wrong then u r probably guilty for stealing some1′s money in the same manner.. if u cnt say nytin positive den best to keep quiet. Lets see if the same happens to u, will u take the mpesa thief’s side or will u speak up for ur right??
I Think he is not all that a thief per say, he was just uncooperative (I mean the money came to his phone without him lifting a finger) in which case for someone to cooperate, they need be talked to in a respectable manner.
You would have started off well by admitting your mistake of sending to his number by mistake then go on to ask him to return the money. (He should have returned it anyway)
I don’t think any Mobile Money system can stop you from sending to a wrong number except prompting you to confirm recipients number in which case M Pesa already does.
Yes, I agree with you, Erick. Yes, I should have at first contacted him and politely asked that he not withdraw the cash and just reverse the process. The part you skipped in the post explain that I did try to call him for over and hour. I didn’t even contact him before reaching to Safaricom customer care. I didn’t have the right to bother him at all at the time. If he hadn’t withdrawn my cash chap chap, I could have easily reversed the process without involving him at all. But he put my cash beyond my reach and started this whole mess.
Get a job… Instead of complaining all day about a mistake that u made. Stupid
I do have a job anonymous. And I am not complaining. Don’t get all confused. I am working on a problem that needs fixing. What are you doing, comrade?
Hahahah that’s a good idea, just because some one made a mistake, another ne should not take advantage. Where is the police in all this? If they did a good job more Kenyans would learn manners.
Have saved him on TrueCaller as Benson Mpesa Thief and suggest you do the same, every contact who uses that will see that message.Oh and have SMS’d him that I did.
No matter what the mistake….but benson should have returned the money which is not his. People like benson should be exposed and what goes round comes round… Well done for putting this on social media! As for Safaricom…that customer care line is a nuisance to get through incase of an emergency….pull up your socks SAFARICOM!
Hi, I have actually reposted this on my pageshttp://www.facebook.com/echoes.of.love and my website/bloghttp://www.hilarious.amredeemed.comhoping if not catching this guy-at least the next gy tempted to withdraw realizes how small this world is-but most importantly is that we make those responsible come up with better measures to curb this
Exactly Islim. This campaign in less about punishing one man and more about deterring others out there who think that #Mpesatheft is an act of divine providence. Which God is this?
Hmm, I wonder what could solve this? One idea that comes to mind is two-factor authorisation where you are prompted to confirm sending money to the other party. Another way I suppose could be to delay releasing the money for 10 mins or more. The third might be to deduct that amount of balance from the call time of the recipient once it’s been determined there has been a mistake. hmm.
I find it hard to believe that there are people justifying this man’s behaviour. Whatever happened to honesty and integrity? Do they feel it’s acceptable for the rest of the world to see Kenyans as a race of toddlers that scream ‘finders keepers’ when someone else’s property falls into their hands. Grow up people.
Phoneathon…just ask everyone to call him every now and then. Hata usiku. He’ll lose the number in a day or two but he’ll have ‘fond’ memories.
Safaricom does nothing, the government is not taking any action so it is left to civil socity to take action and we are now doing something about it because we are tired as you are.
I will call Benson kariuki and hear what he have to say
Please do. That’s the right thing to do, absolutely.
Great job Makena. If more Kenyans demanded their rights as you are doing, the country would have fewer Benson Kariukis (not to mention those whose minds are so perverted to justice that they dare defend Kariuki and blame you for making a mistake — they don’t know better!!!)
The Sender made a mistake, The receiver is an opportunist (maybe he desperately needed the cash to do whatever), The problem is with the system, safaricom IT team you have failed.
What Benson did is unacceptable, you don’t rush to withdraw somebodys then justify it that you never stole. All those who are for Benson are thieves in one way or another. Two wrongs don’t make a right. One day I sent money for my mums hospital fee and accidentally send to wrong number, and dint realize until somebody call me. I almost rejected the call but thought may be it was my mums doctor when I received the call somebody talked to me politely that I had send him money and he doesn’t understand whether it was his boss who had instructed somebody to send him the money. When I told him that I had send the money accidentally he asked me how he could send back the money safely .I told him to send back to me which he did minus a few hundreds which I understood because of the transection. Thanks Mr Mohammed a trailer driver who send back my 50,000 less 220
A thief who sounded like a police officer by name Evans Ogechi 0725941149 varnished with my 22k on 16/04/13. I am still looking for him to teach him one hell of a good lesson. Lets expose the rotten apples amongst us.
Makena, just get over it. You messed up and the law is not on your side. I do 80,000 in MPESA transactions a month and only send to numbers on my SIM card. Defaming Benson Kariuki won’t help you, for all you know he is a chokora in Grogan. Move on.
I am glad for you Kimani that Mpesa has worked for you. It hasn’t for me and unfortunately, I am not the kind to just shrug when thinks are wrong. Not when I can change them. I will build a better Kenya for you too.
however little it may seem, real change begins with you and I. holding on to something that you know not to be yours by every means is unjust. lets all do our bit in making this nation what it should be because it ‘s evident that the likes of Aden Duale can never do it for us. It all starts with you and me. lets make the difference.
Is it so hard to understand the pain of another human being because you’ve been ‘bright’ enough to never ACCIDENTALLY have your money or even property fall into the hands of another. Notions that its alright to take another’s property just cause you know you aren’t likely to get caught is the root of corruption that’s plaguing our country so violently. Lets try praise enlightenment and the honest people who have and would return property to their owners without being asked (cause its the right thing to do) rather than bash people for honest mistakes, and you’ll be surprised that this post may save you or your loved ones when you really need it to.
im no lawyer, but i think you can seek redress in court (if you got his id number and location) on grounds of unjust enrichment(law of quasi-contracts)…if your efforts (to publicise his ction) fail to yield any fruit, try and speak to a lawyer…and i think he’ll also have to cover legal expenses.
Thanks Njeru for the Advice. Appreciated.
The newer sim cards, where you search the name of the recipient from your sim card, can partly help. Just make sure you save most of your friends number in the safaricom sim card.
Otherwise this is a good initiative that requires support from all of us. This would pressure safaricom into becoming more innovative.
Makena,
Thank you for taking action. For lack of values in us kenyans, we are allowing our country to go to the dogs. If you receive money that us not yours, honesty and integrity demands you return it without even being asked. Withdrawing it is stealing. I am circulating this number and putting it on true caller also. You did the right thing
The best I always is go address as if you want to edit and copy the number using the phone then go to Mpesa and copy the number and put the amount and pin and ok. You’ll never go wrong as if the new SIM card get’s full with 50 or 100 names.
Thanks Jacob. You have enlightened me.
I have just created a Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Name-and-Shame-MPesa-Thieves/346697965465074
Matelong, be aware that there are probably legal implications. Things may go wrong if people start using your platform to accuse innocent people