CCK assures public over mobile phone hoax

The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has urged Kenyans to ignore messages warning them against receiving calls from unknown or certain listed numbers.

The mobile phone hoax, which has caused panic among some people, has been doing the rounds though text, email and social media networks.

Subscribers are warned not to pick calls from the following numbers: 7888308001, 9316048121, 9876266211, 9888854137, 9876715587, saying the numbers “come in red and if received, one would get brain haemorrhage due to high frequency.”

It urges recipients to inform friends and relatives and confirm the information by watching DD News, a reference to an Indian broadcaster called Doordarshan News.

On Wednesday, CCK's director-general Charles Njoroge advised the public to avoid fuelling the fear by transmitting the said messages to friends and family members either through SMS or email forwarding.

“The Commission also wishes to call on the media, particularly FM stations, to exercise responsibility and avoid fuelling fear and despondency among Kenyans by dwelling on these baseless rumours” said Mr Njoroge.

The commission said in press release that upon analysis of the messages, they had established the warnings are a hoax generated by unscrupulous people bent on causing fear and despondency among members of the public.

“The listed numbers are non-existent as mobile, fixed or international calls. In addition, the alleged haemorrhage due to high frequency has no technical basis whatsoever” added Mr Njoroge.

Michael Joseph, Chief Executive Officer of the country's leading telecommunications operator Safaricom said the rumour was a hoax and not technically possible. "It is a popular urban myth that has been perpetuated, especially in some Asian markets." he said

“We wish to reassure our customers and all users of mobile phones in the Kenyan market to ignore these rumours and continue enjoying our services. It is unfortunate that some people are perpetuating this rumour, causing fear and stopping many from the convenience of enjoying our services.” Said Mr Joseph

Investigations indicated that the numbers listed belong to operators in India and the UK and the calls are initiated over the internet i.e. VoIP calls.

The Safaricom boss said the services they provide on frequencies that are safe for humans and that the colour displayed was dependant on handset design.

“Colour displays can not be altered, unless special software is installed onto the device, the most popular one being Colour SMS software, a freeware readily available off the internet.”

Meanwhile, Kenya’s Communication minister Samuel Poghisio was slated to address news conference later in the afternoon over the same issue.