Simba Telecom Teller defrauds client

This is a tale/narration of painful experience whereby a Simba Telecom Mobile Money teller/agent openly defrauded a helpless client.

Ladies and gentlemen, on Friday the 13th of January, I was robbed or is it defrauded of my ka hard earned money from a mobile money agent at Simba Telecom counter.

Today, I have gathered the courage to write about it, after coming to terms with the feeling of loss and stupidity, that comes after a fraud.  At 9.45a.m., I went to Garden City MTN Service Centre (which I then learnt, after the theft, trades under Simba Telecom) to withdraw a considerable 7-figure sum off my MTN Mobile money. You should know I left the smaller agents near my workplace and went to Garden City, mbu for security reasons.

Anyway, I get there in the queue and I am served by a one Anna Maria. She asks me to say my number. I say it to her twice. She even asks to confirm if my name is Mercy Nalusiba. I answer in the affirmative. Within 30 seconds, I receive a prompt to authorise the withdrawal. I put my pin and wait for the money. After about a minute she tells me she has not seen the message on her phone; I tell her but I am done with the process and even show her the message on my phone for proof.

She says that is not her agent name and she is not the one who has withdrawn the money. Oh the panic, the confusion! I tell her, “ but we have been just the two of us, you even confirmed my number, what’s up?” And lots of denials and counter accusations ensue. It then occurs to me that I have been played. I ask her who I should call? Where should I go? There must be a number to call to block the “other” agent who, by the way, to date is still trading under MBEJJA CISSY 0789556034., who has withdrawn my money. The lady (Anna Maria and her colleagues advise me to run to Forest Mall service centre.) I also send a WhatsApp to MTN.

I get there, meet a one Jacque, she records my complaint and makes a few calls here and there –(I am not sure to whom) – she then asks me for the number that withdrew the money, I read it and she checks her computer and says the number has already withdrawn the money off their number. She asks me for the agent number where I was doing the withdraw first; I don’t have the number.

In the process, one of the supervisors (Rashdah) calls to ask if I have gone to Forest Mall. I give her to Jacque to read us their agent number. They REFUSE. As in refused, they can’t give us the number; they need to call their bosses. Meanwhile I get a response from the MTN Whatsapp: “Yello, sadly 256789556034 has already used the funds, kindly involve police for further support.)

Anyway back to Jacque, she says she can’t proceed without the number, but has logged a complaint. I ask if I can get a reference and she says no, the supervisor of that area (a one Prossy) will reach out to me. I am still waiting for Prossy to call, by the way. Ha!

Jacque sends me back to Garden City to get the number. Its 11.00 a.m. now. The girls at the till give me some story of a guy who must have been in the queue with me and they suspect withdrew the money. We view the cameras – I am then sent to their main branch to see a one Mohammed.

By this time I know my money has gone, but I am looking for any form of help and action. I also don’t want to go home and regret not having done anything about it. So I vumilia. We get to Simba Telecom Kampala Road. I meet two young ladies who right away interrogate me and get on the defensive. They ask stupid questions – the ones you shouldn’t be asking a person who has lost money in this January. I forgave them only because one was pregnant. But there is a way women love to sit behind their desks and downplay other people’s experiences!!

Anyway, Mohammed shows up and tells me we have to wait for a one Dorah who could help (I don’t remember exactly with what) but I sit anyway. A one Gloria (this was the only person that day that seemed to want to help) comes in and joins the conversation and makes several calls to some “managers” in MTN and oba security.

I then tell them I would like the statement of the agent that withdrew my money. They tell me to go back to Forest Mall, they call up someone in MTN Security who says the responsible officer in charge is on leave. In summary, money lost, productive time lost, no help got.

By now it is 3.00 p.m. I then proceed to Jinja Road Police station. Now, I really didn’t want to go there or waste any more of my time, but my friends with whom I had shared, advised that I go and record a statement and maybe I’d get some help especially with the mobile money statement, or even make some arrests. I proceed to make the statement and I am given a reference number. I am also promised that by 1.00 p.m. the following day, Saturday, I would receive a call from the responsible officer assigned my file once it has been sanctioned – or the bunkum terms that they like to use.

On my way home, I call up a colleague in the Public Relations field and narrate my ordeal. She shares with me an MTN number. She was quite sure this person would do something. I call the number; she doesn’t pick and doesn’t return the call. Yeah, they are busy like that. I call up another number, this time a gentleman, he also did not call nor return my call. I go home feeling disconsolate, alone, frightened, dejected, robbed, stupid and pissed at my own country!

Now today, ladies and gentleman, I made a follow-up at Jinja Road station; I mean it is three days now and I haven’t heard from them – and wait for it!!! My file is MISSING. Ah, I first laughed in capital letters. Kubanga wonders shall never end!!!

Meanwhile at Forest Mall and at the police station, several people concurred that mine was not the first fraud case of that nature at Garden City. This can only mean one thing: either the agent or his employees are involved in this syndicate, considering that they haven’t put any measures yet to curb the scam.

Anyway, as Jinja Road traces my file and as I think of my next course of action, I am hoping you, friends, do not fall victim to such con. Always confirm with the agent which mobile money number is withdrawing from your number. Remember these agents do not give you that information and most of them trade under many different names. Byeebyo nno. Nga nkulabira.

But also, if Anyone knows how I can be helped, I am open to advice.