Thousands of MTN Nigeria subscribers are urgently checking their mobile lines for hidden third-party subscriptions after a viral post on X alleged that the telecom operator enrolled a customer into a paid service without consent, leading to an unexpected ₦100 airtime deduction. The claim has sparked a wave of account audits, though there is currently no independent evidence of system-wide automatic enrollment, and MTN has not issued an official statement regarding the specific incident.
What the viral X post claims about MTN deductions
According to the trending post, an MTN user received an SMS shortly after midnight stating they had successfully subscribed to a service called "MEGA WINS – SLOT DAILY." The initial message noted no immediate fee but scheduled an automatic renewal for the following day. The user alleged that a second SMS arrived 24 hours later, confirming the subscription had renewed and deducting ₦100 from their airtime balance. The post argued that if such unsolicited activations occur across millions of subscribers, they could quietly generate substantial revenue.
The allegation has fueled heated online debate, with many subscribers sharing similar experiences. However, without an official response from MTN, the scale of the issue remains unclear.
How to check and cancel unwanted subscriptions on MTN
Unsolicited value-added services (VAS) can quickly drain mobile credit if left unchecked. To audit your line, use MTN's official VAS management portal by dialing *305# from your MTN line. Open the menu and select "View Active Subscriptions." If your line is clear, you will see a message stating: "You have no active service." If you find unfamiliar services such as games, daily horoscopes, or trivia lotteries, select the option to deactivate or unsubscribe. Within moments, MTN will send a confirmation SMS verifying the opt-out.
Alternative fix: Activate full Do-Not-Disturb (DND)
For a more permanent barrier against unsolicited promotional billing, use the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) mandated protocol. Text the word "STOP" to 2442 to activate Full DND. This blocks all promotional subscription requests, stops third-party promotional alerts, and significantly reduces the risk of accidental automated subscriptions.
Subscribers are advised to regularly check their lines using *305# to ensure no hidden charges are active. The NCC has previously directed telecom operators to obtain explicit consent before activating paid services, and customers can report violations to the commission.
