OPay has officially dismissed a viral claim circulating on social media that it has ceased using customers' phone numbers as wallet account numbers. The fintech company emphasized that the information is false and misleading, urging the public to disregard the post.

The controversy began when an X user, identified as Israel Gharee, suggested that OPay had transitioned to standard account numbers, advising users still utilizing phone numbers to visit OPay agents for account upgrades. In response, OPay took to its official X account to clarify that phone numbers remain valid identifiers for wallet accounts on its platform.

In a firm statement, OPay reassured its customers that there is no need to visit agents for any account changes, countering the misinformation spread by the viral post. The company reiterated that regular users can continue to use their registered mobile phone numbers as account identifiers without any issues.

OPay also highlighted the existence of its My BizPayment feature, which allows eligible users to obtain merchant account numbers for business transactions. However, this feature does not imply that the company has discontinued phone-number-based accounts for individual customers.

The fintech firm expressed serious concern over the potential repercussions of spreading false information about financial institutions, stating that such actions could mislead the public, create unnecessary panic, and harm the company's reputation. To address this, OPay issued a 30-minute ultimatum to the author of the misleading post, warning of possible legal action if the content was not removed promptly.

This incident is not the first time OPay has had to confront damaging misinformation online. Earlier in September, the Nigeria Police Force's National Cybercrime Centre arrested an individual for posting a false notice claiming that OPay was shutting down, which garnered significant attention with over 572,000 views shortly after publication.

As a licensed mobile money operator under the Central Bank of Nigeria, OPay has urged its customers and the general public to verify any information regarding its services through official communication channels before acting on or sharing social media claims. The company remains committed to maintaining the integrity of its services and protecting its customers from misinformation.