The public should beware of con men who take advantage of promotions by telecom firms to cheat unsuspecting customers.

Annie Tabura, the MTN sales and distribution general manager, said unscrupulous people usually use promotions to con customers of money or other valuables.

"Watch out for impostors who pretend to represent MTN and ask you to first send them money to give you the prize. We don’t ask winners to pay any money to get their prizes.”

Tabura  was speaking during the hand over of the first ‘Sharama’ promotion car prize in Kirehe District on Tuesday.

Jerome Hitayezu, an agronomist, was the first customer to win one of the 12 Suzuku Alto 800 cars valued at Rwf12 million that are up for grabs.

"We contact winners using the phone number 078400000 only to give them details on how to redeem the prizes. So, don’t be duped by con men. If anyone calls you asking for money, alert the Police and MTN,” she advised.

Meanwhile, Hitayezu said the vehicle will ease his work.

"It has been difficult to move from one farm to another, this will now be history,” Hitayesu said.

He said he sent over 100 text messages daily, and spent about Rwf170,000 on airtime. Claudine Uwimana, a student, was one of the subscribers who won T-shirts, mobile phones and airtime.

To participate, a customer sends the word "Tsinda” to 4100. Besides cars and T-shirts, there are cash prizes worth Rwf45 million and airtime to be won.