Scammers are individuals who use dishonesty to earn a living. Scammers and identity thieves target everyone. However, most gullible people are the senior citizens. From online scammer to calls claiming to be from the police or leading multinationals, Kenyans have every reason to be wary. Here are 10 Types of Scams to Avoid in Kenya:
- M-Pesa scams
They are the most common. Almost every Safaricom subscriber receives a message from these criminals. They mimic official messages from the company. Oftentimes, they lure Kenyans to believe they have won prizes in promotions they never took part. They also use tricks persuade unsuspecting and desperate Kenyans to reveal their personal details including PIN numbers for their ATM and sim cards.
- Property Investment Scams
The swindler organizes for a free investment presentation that aims at persuading investors. Here scammers that request you enrol in order to invest. They involve buying yet-to-be-built real estate properties at discounted rates. It also involves buying and leasing schemes where the scam company offers to renovate and manage properties. The companies always never exist.
- Nairobi scam
It always happens within the city. As you walk along the streets, smartly dressed fellas will approach you and engage you in conversation requesting for direction or for help. The script is always the same. From Kenyatta Avenue to Moiu Avenue, different faces, same lies. As you engage the smart thief, a gang emerges with arrest warrant card saying they are police and need to arrest the other person. The events unfold so fast that within a minute, you are robbed.
- Prize scam
You receive a call, text or an email congratulating you for wining a prize, a huge lottery or a gift. At this moment, you cannot remember if you ever bought the ticket or participated. The scammer then requests you to pay a processing fee before they give you the prize. The impersonate company promotions like Tetemesha Na Safaricom, common promotion among Kenyans. Be smart. After all, no genuine lottery asks winners to pay money.
- Fake rental listing
The scammers reproduce rental lists from advertisers and repost them posing as agents or property owners. They post the adverts in newspapers, social networks and websites with their office location. Upon visiting them, they will ask for security deposit or down payments and given day to visit the booked house. Upon visiting, you will shockingly learn that they never existed or they relocated to unknown place
- Online dating scam
Success stories of online dating do exist here in Kenya. Nonetheless, a good number of Kenyans have fear of dating online because of the possibility of landing fraud dates. Con artists usually create attractive profiles and pose as potential hook-ups. Once you establish an online relationship, the scammer turns into a beggar, ask for money to pay emergency bills. Most of thy scams are overseas and claim to live in Nairobi. They will suggest for a meeting, but before you meet, they are stranded. They quickly turn to you for financial bailout.
- Job scams.
This works because millions of Kenyans are desperately jobless. You see an advert online for a high salaried job but before you are given the job, you are asked to pay training fee. Sometimes you register your CV on a jobsite and quickly get a call or email from an employment agency promising you a job at a fee.
- 8. WhatsApp scam
This are sent in WhatsApp groups. The scammer sends a link leading the victim to upgrade WhatsApp to have some exclusive features such as WhatsApp Wi-Fi or fee services. The victim is then directed to forward to more than 5 groups so hat one can experience changes. In most cases, this leads you to signing up for costly premium services.
- Online merchandize scams
You purchase something online, but it is either never delivered or it is not what they claimed it was, or is defective.This scam has been rampart with online sites such as OLX. Scammers pose as OLX staff or a seller and request for deposit before delivery. Sometimes the scammer organises to meet the buyer only to rob them.
- Identity scams
This where the scammer steals someone’s ID. He/she then uses ID to commit crime. The criminals also use lost national IDs to register phone numbers. This makes you liable for any crime and transactions carried out in your name.
- Washwash
The con artist claims to make money. They approach the victim then promise to make or publish twice the money you gave. They then run away with money or give their client fake money.
By Catherine Akuku
