By law, all mobile phone networks operating in Kenya must register their new subscribers using their National Identity Cards. This measure helps the government fight against SIM swap fraud and identity theft.
However, even with these precautions, there’s still a risk that your personal details could end up in the wrong hands and be used to register a mobile line without your knowledge.
The good thing is that mobile networks provide a solution for that. Through the USSD code (*106#), you can easily confirm whether there are any unauthorized lines linked to your ID card and deactivate them.
In this article, you will learn how to check the mobile numbers that have been registered under your ID card on your Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom lines. We will also provide the steps you should take if you find a number or numbers that have been registered using your ID card without your consent.
Why Should You Check the Mobile Numbers Registered with Your ID?
It’s important to check the mobile numbers registered with your ID to prevent SIM swap fraud and identity theft.
SIM swap fraud is an identity theft where a criminal collaborates with a rogue agent to move your phone number to a new SIM card. This gives them control of your phone number, allowing them to access your M-Pesa or bank account. They could also impersonate you and trick your friends or family into sending them money.
Apart from replacing your SIM card with a new one, criminals can also register a new SIM card using your ID.
How to Check Safaricom Numbers Registered Using Your ID
If you have a Safaricom line, you will always receive a notification when someone tries registering a new line using your details. You can either accept or cancel the registration on your existing mobile number.
However, you can follow these steps to check whether there are existing numbers linked to your ID:
- On your Safaricom line, dial *106#
- Select option 1 which is “Number Query Service”
- Go to “Check Registration Status”
You will receive a notification from Safaricom with all the numbers linked to your ID card.
If you find any number that you did not register, follow these steps to remove it:
- Dial *106#
- Go to “Number Query Service”
- Select “Deactivate Unknown Numbers”
- Select the number that you want to deactivate from the list provided
How to Check Airtel Numbers Registered Using Your ID
Just like Safaricom, Airtel provides a convenient way to view and deactivate strange phone numbers that are linked to your ID. If you have an Airtel line, follow these steps to do so:
- Dial *106# on your Airtel line
- Select option 3 which is “Numbers Registered with My ID”
- Choose the ID type you used when registering your line e.g, National ID, Alien ID, Passport, etc
- Next, enter your National ID number (if you used your national ID card to register your SIM card)
- Wait for Airtel to send you a message with all the numbers registered under your ID card
If there is any number on the list that you do not recognize, visit your nearest Airtel shop to deactivate it. Please note that you must carry your ID card for this to be successful.
How to Check Telkom Numbers Registered Using Your ID
You can also check unknown Telkom numbers linked to your ID. All you need to do is dial *106# on your Telkom line and follow the subsequent prompts to de-register any number that you did not register.
Final Word
It is easy to find and deactivate strange mobile numbers that are linked to your ID card. To be safe, you must check these numbers periodically by dialling *106# on your Safaricom, Airtel, or Telkom lines. However, the most important thing is to prevent criminals from accessing your personal documents such as your national ID card.
