diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 25c8c1e..f62c330 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ go 1.23.4
 require (
 	git.defalsify.org/vise.git v0.3.2-0.20250401123711-d481b04a6805
 	git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/common v0.0.0-20250121134736-ba8cbbccea7d
-	git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250310093912-8145b4bd004b
+	git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250401122510-441e289854ad
 	git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver v0.9.0-beta.2
 	git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver-africastalking v0.0.0-20250129070628-5a539172c694
 	github.com/alecthomas/assert/v2 v2.2.2
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 301a3ee..533f2fe 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/common v0.0.0-20250121134736-ba8cbbccea7d
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/common v0.0.0-20250121134736-ba8cbbccea7d/go.mod h1:wgQJZGIS6QuNLHqDhcsvehsbn5PvgV7aziRebMnJi60=
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250310093912-8145b4bd004b h1:xiTpaqWWoF5qcnarY/9ZkT6aVdnKwqztb2gzIahJn4w=
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250310093912-8145b4bd004b/go.mod h1:gOn89ipaDcDvmQXRMQYKUqcw/sJcwVOPVt2eC6Geip8=
+git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250401111804-2eed990921c5 h1:DwBZHP4sebfHxK8EU2nlA2CXU81+a7Kj/pnC5vDPcf4=
+git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250401111804-2eed990921c5/go.mod h1:gOn89ipaDcDvmQXRMQYKUqcw/sJcwVOPVt2eC6Geip8=
+git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250401115503-5b41c8dc6440 h1:eWrBZMM3pBMCFyRl4rO/aaR+OmOMFJxogNyFAFry+EM=
+git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250401115503-5b41c8dc6440/go.mod h1:gOn89ipaDcDvmQXRMQYKUqcw/sJcwVOPVt2eC6Geip8=
+git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250401122510-441e289854ad h1:tYjanaCf6mF+iXRtDx5gckQm5vhZYx9N/JlNIBZj1m0=
+git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/sarafu-api v0.9.0-beta.1.0.20250401122510-441e289854ad/go.mod h1:gOn89ipaDcDvmQXRMQYKUqcw/sJcwVOPVt2eC6Geip8=
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver v0.9.0-beta.2 h1:YFztSsexCUgFo6M0tbngRwYdgJd3LQV3RO/Jw09u3+k=
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver v0.9.0-beta.2/go.mod h1:6B6ByxXOiRY0NR7K02Bf3fEu7z+2c/6q8PFVNjC5G8w=
 git.grassecon.net/grassrootseconomics/visedriver-africastalking v0.0.0-20250129070628-5a539172c694 h1:DjJlBSz0S13acft5XZDWk7ZYnzElym0xLMYEVgyNJ+E=
diff --git a/handlers/application/menuhandler.go b/handlers/application/menuhandler.go
index 532c081..615f500 100644
--- a/handlers/application/menuhandler.go
+++ b/handlers/application/menuhandler.go
@@ -1631,18 +1631,23 @@ func (h *MenuHandlers) InviteValidRecipient(ctx context.Context, sym string, inp
 	l := gotext.NewLocale(translationDir, code)
 	l.AddDomain("default")
 
-	recipient, _ := store.ReadEntry(ctx, sessionId, storedb.DATA_TEMPORARY_VALUE)
-	if len(recipient) == 0 {
-		logg.ErrorCtxf(ctx, "recipient is empty", "key", storedb.DATA_TEMPORARY_VALUE)
-		return res, fmt.Errorf("Data error encountered")
+	recipient, err := store.ReadEntry(ctx, sessionId, storedb.DATA_TEMPORARY_VALUE)
+	if err != nil {
+		logg.ErrorCtxf(ctx, "Failed to read invalid recipient info", "error", err)
+		return res, err
 	}
 
-	// TODO
-	// send an invitation SMS
-	// if successful
-	// res.Content = l.Get("Your invitation to %s to join Sarafu Network has been sent.",  string(recipient))
+	if !phone.IsValidPhoneNumber(string(recipient)) {
+		logg.InfoCtxf(ctx, "corrupted recipient", "key", storedb.DATA_TEMPORARY_VALUE, "recipient", recipient)
+		return res, nil
+	}
 
-	res.Content = l.Get("Your invite request for %s to Sarafu Network failed. Please try again later.", string(recipient))
+	_, err = h.accountService.SendUpsellSMS(ctx, sessionId, string(recipient))
+	if err != nil {
+		res.Content = l.Get("Your invite request for %s to Sarafu Network failed. Please try again later.", string(recipient))
+		return res, nil
+	}
+	res.Content = l.Get("Your invitation to %s to join Sarafu Network has been sent.", string(recipient))
 	return res, nil
 }