Mobile network operators (MNOs) and Electronic Money Issuers (EMIs) have been forewarned by the Communications Minister that the National Communications Authority (NCA) will have the authority to blacklist scammers on all networks due to the impending central SIM registration system.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, April 15, Samuel Nartey George claimed that despite numerous allegations, telecoms have not responded to accusations of mobile money theft. He charged them with ignoring fraud practices that are readily apparent.
He claims that people often notify EMIs of these bogus numbers. To stop the syndicates, however, not much is done.
“That is my problem with the EMIs that we are going to deal with,” the Ningo Prampram MP stated.
“When there is a proven case that a particular number, and again, when you follow, especially those who do the Facebook thing, it is a string of similar numbers that are used.”
“Several reports are made to the EMIs for them to talk to their sister companies, the MNOs, to block those numbers, but they are not doing it,” he said.
But he promised that was about to change.
The Communications Ministry is developing a centralized system that will interface directly with the NCA under the new registration regime. He said that this would fundamentally change the enforcement environment.
This puts an end to the widespread practice of switching networks in order to avoid detection because a fraudster who is barred on one network will also be blocked on all others.
More importantly, the minister disclosed that telecom providers will be subject to severe financial penalties if they do nothing about identified numbers.
“That’s the beauty of the registration system we are going to do,” the minister explained.
“Because the system is going to sit with the NCA. The NCA will have the power to blacklist numbers across networks.”
“If a report is made and we identify that this number is perpetuating fraud, failure to deal with it by the telco, after we have informed you of this, will result in daily pecuniary fines,” he warned.
Despite public education campaigns and SIM registration requirements, mobile money fraud is still on the rise; therefore, the action represents a tough new stance from the government.
According to the minister’s remarks, the new system will not only centralize fraud detection but also compel network providers to make quick corrections or face consequences.
In the upcoming months, the new framework is anticipated to be implemented, with a focus on NIA-linked identity verification, real-time reporting, and data integrity.
Source: newsthemegh.com