Mobile Money Scams in Uganda: How to Spot and Stop Them

Scammers are creative, but most scams follow a handful of familiar patterns. They rely on surprise, urgency and trust. Once you know the patterns, you can spot them in seconds. This guide covers the most common scams targeting mobile money and digital wallet users in Uganda, the warning signs, and what to do if you've been targeted.

1. The "wrong number" refund

How it works: you receive an SMS that looks like a deposit notification. Minutes later, someone calls in a panic: "I sent money to you by mistake, please send it back." The SMS was fake; no money ever arrived.

Protect yourself: always check your actual balance in the EriPay app, not an SMS. If genuine money did arrive by mistake, contact support rather than sending it back to a caller.

2. Prize and promotion messages

How it works: "Congratulations! You have won UGX 5,000,000 in our anniversary promotion. Send UGX 50,000 processing fee to claim."

Protect yourself: real promotions never ask you to pay to receive a prize. If you didn't enter, you didn't win.

3. Impersonators

How it works: a caller claims to be from EriPay, a bank, a network, URA or the police. They say your account is blocked or under investigation, and ask for your PIN, password or a verification code "to fix it".

Protect yourself: EriPay will never ask for your PIN, password or verification codes. Hang up. If you're worried, contact us yourself through the app or at info@eripays.com.

4. Fake agents and fake payment screens

How it works: at a counter, a "customer" shows a payment success screen that is a screenshot or a fake app, and walks off with cash or goods.

Protect yourself: agents and shopkeepers should wait for the notification in their own app before handing anything over.

5. "Double your money" and investment schemes

How it works: a WhatsApp group or Telegram channel promises 20% a week, crypto "mining" profits or forex returns. Early members may be paid with new members' money, until the scheme collapses.

Protect yourself: guaranteed high returns, rewards for recruiting friends and pressure to act fast are all signs of a scam.

6. Job and loan advance fees

How it works: "Pay a registration fee and we'll give you a job abroad" or "pay a processing fee and receive a UGX 2 million loan today".

Protect yourself: legitimate employers and lenders do not ask for payment upfront to unlock a job or loan.

7. Fake online sellers

How it works: a seller on social media offers a phone at half price, takes payment and disappears.

Protect yourself: buy from sellers with a real history, prefer payment links and checkouts showing a business name, and be suspicious of prices that are far too low.

8. Approval prompts you didn't start

How it works: a prompt to approve a payment appears on your phone, and someone calls saying "just enter your PIN to receive your money".

Protect yourself: entering your PIN on a prompt sends money out, never in. Decline any prompt you didn't start.

The golden rules

1. Never share your PIN, password or verification codes with anyone.
2. Check balances in the app, not by SMS.
3. Read the recipient's name before every transfer.
4. Turn on two-factor authentication.
5. Slow down. Scammers rely on urgency; a real problem can wait five minutes.
6. When in doubt, ask someone you trust or contact us.

How EriPay helps protect you

• A Wallet PIN is required for every payment.
• The recipient's name is shown before every transfer.
• Two-factor sign-in and instant alerts when money moves.
• QR flows at agents, so you never share your PIN at a counter.

If you've been targeted

1. Stop all contact with the scammer.
2. Change your password and PIN if you shared them.
3. Contact EriPay support immediately with any transaction IDs.
4. Report the crime to the police.
5. Warn friends and family; scammers often target whole contact lists.

Share this guide with someone who is new to digital money. Open a secure EriPay wallet.