Leading fintech company, OPay Digital Services, has dismissed a viral social media publication claiming that it would suspend operations from September 1, 2026, describing the report as false, malicious and misleading.
The fabricated message, which circulated widely across social media platforms on Sunday, purportedly advised OPay customers to withdraw or transfer their funds ahead of an alleged prolonged shutdown of the fintech’s services.
The claim triggered concerns among some customers before OPay moved to publicly refute the publication and reassure users that its operations remained fully active.
In a statement posted on its verified social media platforms, the company described the publication as fake and urged customers to disregard it.
In a message titled “This is FALSE!”, OPay said: “OPay is not going on break by September. We’re here, and we’re going nowhere! 💚”
The fintech also urged members of the public to scrutinise the viral message carefully, noting that inconsistencies in the publication could help users identify it as fraudulent.
“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,” the company stated, using the hashtag #OPayIsOkay.
Reacting to the development, OPay’s Vice President, Public and Government Affairs, Dr. Maxwell Loko, described the publication as “false, malicious and misleading” and stressed that the company had no plans to shut down its operations.
Loko warned customers against making financial decisions based on the fabricated message, particularly withdrawing or transferring funds because of the false claim.
“This post is false, malicious and misleading. OPay is not shutting down, and customers should not be misled into withdrawing their funds based on fabricated information,” he said.
He further advised customers and members of the public to rely only on the company’s verified platforms for information concerning its services, operations and any future announcements.
“We urge the public to disregard this post and rely only on OPay’s verified communication channels for official information,” Loko added.
The OPay executive also raised concerns about the potential consequences of deliberately spreading false information about a financial institution.
“The deliberate spread of false information designed to cause panic or undermine confidence in a financial institution is a serious matter and may have legal consequences,” he said.
The incident highlights the growing challenge posed by fabricated digital content and misleading social media publications targeting businesses and financial institutions.
Such claims can spread rapidly online, potentially causing unnecessary panic and influencing customers to make hasty financial decisions before the information can be verified.
While speculation has emerged in some quarters that the publication could have been motivated by competitive interests seeking to damage OPay’s position in the fintech market, there is currently no publicly established evidence identifying the individual or organisation behind the fake message.
OPay therefore urged its customers to exercise caution when encountering claims about its operations online and to verify such information through the company’s authenticated communication channels before taking any action.
The company’s clarification effectively dispels the claim that it will cease or suspend operations from September 1, 2026, while reaffirming that its services remain available to customers.
Customers are advised to treat unsolicited messages concerning their funds or OPay’s operations with caution and confirm such claims through the fintech’s official channels before sharing them or acting on them.