Kenyan mobile network operator Safaricom wants to use biometrics to identify people purchasing Sim cards.The company's CEO announced the plan following an upsurge in SIM card fraud.it also comes in the wake of the arrest of several employees of the company linked to defrauding unsuspecting Kenyans through SIM swaps.”We are exploring on different things to make sure you SIM card is secure, one of them which will involve scanning your finger print or calling your number as you upgrade your SIM card to make sure that you are the owner of the card,” said Bob Collymore.Director of Corporate Affairs at Safaricom, Stephen Chege, told Business Daily the plan would indeed boost security.”If we bring in biometrics and someone tries social engineering, at some point they will be required to put in details like a thumb print to prove if that is a genuine customer authorizing SIM swap,” said Chege, adding that the move could solve the problem of fraudsters posing as Safaricom staff to extract vital information from customers.
Kenyan telecom mulls fingerprints for Sims
