Africa`s largest mobile operator MTN, says it will - in certain instances - refund customers who have unwillingly paid for airtime after having been defrauded by online scammers.
Recent online hacking attacks have seen prepaid MTN airtime being purchased fraudulently from banking customers` accounts.
In a statement released yesterday afternoon, MTN stated it was aware of the problem.
"At their discretion, and in the interest of protecting customers, the banks may approach MTN to ensure that stolen airtime is removed from certain prepaid cellphone numbers.
"MTN will act only after it obtains official instruction from the banks to remove any stolen airtime from its network," the cellular provider said.
MTN was "committed to working with all the banks and the necessary authorities in question to resolve this issue and fast-track the arrest of the criminals concerned".
The company has invited affected parties to call its hotline on 083 123 7867.
Cell C`s executive head of corporate communications Vanashree Pillay indicated the company had not received any similar complaints, and Vodacom could not immediately comment on whether it had experienced such activity on its network, but said it would follow up.
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