It was a Friday afternoon, and Agnes was preparing dinner when her phone rang.
Her hands were full, so she asked one of the farmhands to place the phone close to her ear.
“Hello mum. Tunakupigia kutoka Equity kuhusu account yako,” said the caller.
Agnes had an account with Equity Bank, so the call did not immediately raise any suspicion. The caller explained that the bank was carrying out security upgrades and needed to verify some details to prevent customers from being locked out of their accounts.
“Na unaona weekend inaanza. Hatuwezi taka uhangaike weekend nzima ukingojea Monday,” the caller said.
“How thoughtful,” Agnes thought.
“Which details do you need?” she asked.
Her daughter, Chelimo, who had just arrived home, noticed that her mother was on a call.
“Ni bank,” Agnes told her before turning her attention back to the caller.
The caller continued explaining the supposed security exercise before asking Agnes for her PIN.
“So will you give me a new PIN, or will my current one still work?” Agnes asked.
Chelimo immediately moved closer. She could not hear what the caller said, but whatever it was prompted her mother to start reciting her PIN.
“Sawa. The current one is 4…” Agnes began.
“Mum, wacha!” Chelimo’s warning startled her mother.
“End the call,” she said. “Ni bank,” Agnes protested.
Chelimo looked at the caller ID. The number was not Equity’s official contact center number 0763 000 000.
“That’s a scammer, Mum. End the call.” Agnes hung up. Everything suddenly changed.
“Aki, that’s a scammer? He sounded so polite. How did he know I had an account there if it wasn’t the bank?” she asked.
“That’s how these scams work. They know just enough to sound convincing and make you lower your guard,” Chelimo explained.
Then Agnes remembered something else. She had already given the caller the first digit of her PIN.
“What do we do now?” she asked.
Chelimo quickly checked the official Equity website: https://equitygroupholdings.com/ke/secure-banking-tips/ for guidance.
“We need to report the number to 333,” she said.
They later contacted Equity through its official contact centre number 0763 000 000 to confirm that there was no suspicious activity on Agnes’ account.
The experience left Agnes with one uncomfortable question: if Chelimo had not been there, would she have given the scammer her entire PIN? That is exactly what fraudsters are counting on.
A call can sound professional. The person on the other end can know the name of your bank, speak confidently about your account and even create a sense of urgency. None of that makes the call genuine.
Fraudsters may pose as bank representatives, claiming to help with security upgrades, mobile banking, Equitel lines or other services. Their objective is often the same: get you to reveal information that can help them access your money.
They may also use fake emergencies to persuade you to send money, or send links designed to capture your login details or install malicious software on your device.
The safest response is simple: never share your PIN, OTP or other confidential banking information with anyone, even someone claiming to be a bank representative.
Always verify who you are speaking to through an official Equity channel.
Remember:
- Equity Bank only calls customers through its official contact centre number 0763 000 000. Use the same number when you seek services from Equity
- Never share your PIN or OTP with anyone including anyone claiming to be from the Bank.
- You can call 100 for free using your Equitel line to report any suspicious activity. For SMS, send to 333.
- If you receive a suspicious call, end it and report it to the official Equity channel.
For tips on secure banking, visit: https://equitygroupholdings.com/ke/secure-banking-tips/
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