Nigeria’s leading mobile money operator, OPay, has dismissed a viral social media claim suggesting that the fintech company would suspend its operations indefinitely from September 1.
The company issued the clarification in a disclaimer on Sunday, urging customers to disregard the circulating post.
The rumour had claimed that OPay would shut down its operations on September 1 and stop processing transactions until further notice.
The post also advised OPay customers to withdraw their money from the platform as soon as possible to avoid potential difficulties.
However, OPay said the claim was false and noted that several features of the viral post indicated that it did not originate from the company.
The fintech firm urged customers to rely exclusively on information shared through its verified communication channels and to confirm the authenticity of social media posts before sharing them.
“OPay is not going on break in September. We’re here, and we’re going nowhere! True OPay users know how to identify our official communications.
“Take a closer look at the viral post, and you’ll spot the red flags. Always verify before you share. Filter the noise! Follow our official pages for authentic OPay updates,” OPay said.
The incident highlights the growing challenge faced by corporate organisations as unauthorised individuals impersonate brands on social media to circulate false information and potentially defraud members of the public.
In recent months, companies including May & Baker, MTN and Wema Bank have also distanced themselves from social media publications attributed to unauthorised persons claiming to speak on behalf of the organisations.
Similarly, PREMIUM TIMES reported in July that unauthorised TikTok video advertisements offering grants, loans, giveaways and investment opportunities were being used to defraud Nigerians.
The investigation found that some of the fraudulent advertisements were AI-generated and designed to attract unsuspecting users into scams.
Established in 2018, OPay has grown into one of Nigeria’s major digital financial platforms, offering payment, savings, credit and other financial services as a mobile money operator.
The company has also expanded its operations into emerging markets across Africa and Asia, including Indonesia, Pakistan and Egypt.