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Technical glitch causes Safaricom to trigger spam alert

A user on the mySafaricom App. (Photo: Tech-ish.com)

By Lucy Mumbi | 09 Feb 2024

On Friday, the service provider said the issue is affecting customers with Android phones who are using third-party SMS apps.

Safaricom PLC has published a notice explaining why MPESA and Safaricom communications are being flagged as spam.

On Friday, the service provider said the issue is affecting customers with Android phones who are using third-party SMS apps.

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“Dear Customer, We have noted that some of our customers are not receiving messages from Safaricom and/or M-PESA. This issue is affecting customers with Android phones who are using third-party SMS apps,” the service provider said.

This comes after Safaricom customers on Thursday raised concerns that they were receiving MPESA payment messages as spam.

Others said they had to restart their phones about four times only to find the messages in the spammed folder.

“Why are MPESA messages flagged as SPAM? I have had to block and unblock to reset it to normal. Are @Safaricom_Care aware? Others said they thought their phones had issues,” Egline Samoei on X posed.

Why are MPESA messages flagged as SPAM? I have had to block and unblock to reset it to normal. Are @Safaricom_Care aware?
— Egline Samoei (@Egline_Samoei) February 8, 2024

The MPESA messages are flagged as spam .Even with default android SMS app . pic.twitter.com/dqYTxYFvu5
— Geofrey. G. G (@GeofreyG2) February 9, 2024

@Safaricom_Care hi
Why are my pesa messages marked as spam since yesterday?
— JUMAA MAKOPA (@jmakopa) February 8, 2024

What's happening @Safaricom_Care ,unatuma pesa ama kulipa kitu message haikuji then after kukuja inakuja ikiwa spam message,what's up with mpesa!!
— adi teacher (@wa_mashaa) February 6, 2024

However, to resolve the issue, Safaricom advised the affected customers to open their SMS apps and check the messages in the spam and blocked folders.

Additionally, customers using Android smartphones have been directed to select the default SMS app as it does not have a spam folder.

Recently, the service provider has been making several changes to their platforms.

Early this week, Safaricom recently halted the transfer of money to unregistered mobile money users without giving any reasons for the stoppage.

"Effective February 5, 2024, you will no longer be able to send money from M-PESA to unregistered mobile money customers," read the notice.

However, they noted that registered users will be able to send and receive money across different mobile money providers such as Airtel and T-Kash.

"We encourage customers who are not registered for mobile money services to register by visiting a Safaricom Shop or M-PESA Agent with their Identity Document," read the notice.