How to protect yourself and to find out the status of your SIM Card if you are using MTN, GLO, AIRTEL and ETISALAT

In this post, I will be talking mobile.  This stems from the need for greater sensitisation of mobile phone users – but our scope will be limited to Nigerian phone users, although some points might be beneficial to other mobile phone users in other countries. Thus, our discussion will centre on the following: importance of preserving your unique mobile phone number, the importance of registering your SIM Card, the need for organisations to safeguard customer data with the rise of a novel form of 419 (Advance Fee Fraud) and how you can verify the status of your registered mobile phone line if you are using MTN, GLO, AIRTEL, and ETISALAT network respectively.

Consistency matters:

Its common place today to see ads by the three major telecom companies in Nigeria showing off their subscriber base as a means of making a statement vis-à-vis their performance as strong brands compared to their competitors. But the question still arises, “are they all activated?” or “is it just the numbers of lines out in the market plus existing ones already activated?” But, that is not our priority here. When writing on “consistency” I write of it in relations to your mobile phone line.

I always frown at friends etc who change lines just as they do to clothing. There is nothing to compare with being known for just one number, just as you are known as John or Sara by members of society. Come to think of it, what will your business associates etc think when at different times they are issued with or required to reach you on different lines? The answer is simple! They lose trust as they never can tell when next you are going to change to another number thus cutting them off of their only link to your business should they ever need support urgently.

As a rule of consistency, its one thing to procure a line for personal or business use, it’s another to maintain that line consistently. Every thing we do must make room for continuity. Protect your mobile phone line or number. Let your MSIDN (mobile number) remain the same no matter what. In case of theft or loss, you can always go for SIM Swap at your mobile network office to retain your unique ID.

The essence of SIM Card registration in Nigeria:

At the time the Nigeria Communications Commission issued a directive to all telecommunication companies in Nigeria to embark on the registration of their clients many grumbled with respect to the inconvenience it brought. I don’t blame them but the telecom companies that should have undertaken such task at the outset – although I am aware MTN Nigeria took such step but never enforced it with their customers.

With the rise in crimes like robberies, kidnap and 419 (Advance Fee Fraud which has assumed a new dimension) etc the NCC directive became imperative if we must curb such menaces. Thus, the policy of SIM registration gives consumers two opportunities: Retaining ownership of your phone line and protecting your – passively if I may put it so – from potential criminals who utilize mobile communication to perpetrate their crimes, as they can now be easily apprehended should they commit crimes using any registered mobile line – i.e. if they furnished correct information at the point of registration.

A word to Mobile Phone Network operators, Banks and other organisations undertaking client base registration:

Although client registration is important to protect individuals, organisations and society, work still needs to be done in the area of securing information got during the process of every registration exercise carried out by any organisation. This is important with a new dimension in the Advance Fee Fraud (419) in Nigeria – particularly Kaduna State and Rivers; I have not heard of such experience in other parts at the time of writing this article.

It appears that some organisations that have embarked on customer registration processes  might have had careless staff who might have mishandled the information of clients given them in confidence and which (such information) some how must have got into the hands of mischievous elements in society who want to make it big overnight.

The 419 dimension of the day include criminals placing calls across to potential victims alleging that they have been contracted to assassinate them. they not only shock them with such revelation but also go as far as stating their full names, address etc to emphasize their point and to reinforce the belief that they have a full detail of the target’s identity and whereabouts. They proceed to ask such individuals to cooperate as the want to renege on their contract with their hirers. Of course, you can tell what comes next, “pay so and so amount to my account if you wish to stay alive as am on your trail…”.  This happened to someone close to me and we found out from the Police that we are not alone when it comes to such report. However, they lament the stance of telecom operators when it comes to releasing details about calls made by users during investigation processes.

The next example of crime can be cited with the case of criminals exploiting the inadequate (or lack) of jobs in the country. They call you and pretend they are familiar with you, tell you things about you, from whatever info they have on you, and then refer you to a non-existent organisation embarking on recruitment of candidates in the Niger Delta, Rivers State to be precise. They then proceed to ask for your particulars and then tell you about an application form which goes for N15, 000 to N300,000 naira or more with the promise of mouth watering remuneration from such non-existent oil company or fictitious parastatal! They use the names of existing organisations too. Greedy and desperate individuals are usually they victims of such fraud. I write from recent personal experience – believe me I had to play along with them to better understand their modus operandi to be able to sensitize the public as a warning. I hope this would also serve as a wakeup call to organisations on their responsibility to protect customer data with them.

How to verify your SIM Card registration status:

Having registered your mobile line with your network provider, the next step you need to take is to verify  the status of the registration process from your network provider so you do not lose your unique number or mobile ID. Although up to the time of writing this article you are required to call your network provider help line to verify if you were registered successfully, some network providers have dedicated a number with which you can do your verification.

The process is similar for the two network providers, MTN and Globacom Nigeria respectively. Whereas you have to call AIRTEL and Etisalat’s customer care service assistants for help on SIM registration status, for MTN Nigeria all you need do is to text the word “Reg” only or “Reg” followed by space and then your number to the number “789” for free. If your registration was successful, you will get a response to that effect. For example, if your number is 08031234567 do the following via sms in the format below:

Send “REG 08031234567” to “789”

If registered, you will get this response from MTN Nigeria: “2348031234567 has been registered. Thank You!” if your registration was not successful you will get the reply, “2348031234567 has not been registered. Please visit the nearest SIM registration point and register your SIM today. Thank You.” What’s more? You can even check the status for your loved ones and friends so as to inform them of whether their SIM is registered or not.

Glo also dedicated a number for use by its network subscribers. You are also required to text “REG” to “3456” and the requisite reply will be sent from Glo SIM registration unit to your mobile phone via sms with respect to the success or not of your registration.

Go register your SIM Card today and protect or retain your line and to avoid being disconnected from your service provider network. If you lose your registered line, endeavour to contact your network provider for immediate SIM Swap to prevent criminals from using your line to commit crime that might be linked back to you. Enjoy your mobile freedom to stay close to those that matter in your life! Cheers.

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