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Hakikisha: A Simple Guide to Beat Fraudsters and Protecting Your Money
You receive a message that appears to come from someone you know. The sender has a convincing explanation for why money needs to be sent urgently and gives you a number to make the payment. Nothing about the request immediately raises suspicion, so you begin the transaction.
But just before you send the money, you have an opportunity to check one important detail: the recipient’s name.
Fraudsters often rely on trust, distraction and urgency to persuade you to act before thinking through a request. A message may look genuine, and the explanation may sound plausible, but that does not necessarily mean the person requesting the payment is who they claim to be.
This is where Equity Bank’s Hakikisha feature can help you take a moment to verify the recipient before completing an eligible transaction.
Stop and Think
When you initiate an eligible transfer, Hakikisha displays the recipient’s name for you to review before completing the transaction. This gives you an opportunity to check whether the name matches the person or business you intend to pay.
If the displayed name is unfamiliar or does not match what you expected, do not proceed simply because the request is urgent. Pause and confirm the payment details through a separate, trusted channel before sending the money.
For example, if someone impersonating a colleague or a person you regularly deal with asks you to send money to a new number, checking the recipient’s name may reveal a discrepancy that prompts you to investigate further.
The important thing is not to let pressure dictate your next move. An urgent request should not prevent you from checking where your money is going.
Extra Caution
Hakikisha adds a useful check to the payment process, but it is not a guarantee that a transaction is safe. A recipient’s name may appear as expected even when the request itself is fraudulent.
If a payment request is unexpected, unusually urgent or out of character for the person making it, verify the request independently before proceeding. Do not rely solely on the message, phone number or explanation provided by the person asking for money.
You should also protect your PINs, passwords and one-time passwords (OTPs). Never share these details with anyone claiming they need them to help you complete or verify a transaction.
If you suspect that someone is attempting to defraud you, stop the transaction and report the concern by calling Equity Bank’s official contact number 0763 000 000 or 100 if you are using an Equitel Line. If you want to report a suspicious number or message forward it to 333.
Make the Pause Part of Every Payment
When you are ready to send money, take a moment to review the recipient’s name and the amount before completing the transaction. If anything does not add up, stop and verify the details.
Fraudsters want you to act before you have time to question a request. Hakikisha gives you a chance to check who is receiving your money, while careful verification helps you assess whether the payment itself makes sense.
Pause. Hakikisha. Then send.
For tips on secure banking, visit: https://equitygroupholdings.com/ke/secure-banking-tips/
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