Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has cautioned Kenyans against making online transactions with questionable individuals and organizations.
The warning follows an upsurge in reported cases of online fraud in the country, with scammers taking advantage of unsuspecting Kenyan social media users to defraud them out of their hard-earned cash.
“We wish to caution members of the public against engaging in online transactions with companies, agencies and/or individuals they have no credible information about,” the statement reads.
Some websites have been swindling Kenyans under the pretense that they would secure them jobs in the country and abroad, DCI said.
Another scheme involves fraudsters selling products online, demanding full payment in advance before vanishing as soon as they receive the money.
There are also fake agencies purporting to sell real estate properties, exaggerating demand for their products and asking for a down payment before vanishing afterward.
In addition, some fraudsters have been calling unsuspecting individuals while posing as service providers either in banking or mobile money platforms. They then lure account holders using intimidation and threats into giving their personal credentials.
The criminals use other people’s identities and documents such as passports and Identification Cards (IDs) to commit the crimes.
Kenyans who lost identity documents have been urged to report to the police immediately to avoid getting caught in the web.
“Pursuit of these criminals is in most instances a lengthy procedure calling for Cyber-Forensic Interventions, mostly because perpetrators use different social media/Sim Cards to contact different people, after which they block & delete their accounts upon successful transactions,” DCI said.
“We urge the public to Always & Immediately report to their nearest Police Stations any time they lose their ID Cards, Sim Cards/Mobile phones & Laptops, Personal Documents including Academic Testimonials & Driving Licenses, & to obtain Abstract Forms.”
The Nigerian skunks have…
The Nigerian skunks have arrived in Kenya and before they
leave Kenya will be smelly. Nigerians are the World’s most evil people and are the mastermind of all the scams going on in Kenya. Kenya government keeps on allowing this evil people to immigrate in Kenya in large numbers which is contrary to the interest of Kenyans. Kenyans fed up with their criminal activities might soon turn on them as South Africans did recently. If you are a Nigerian Mwakilishi reader please advise your fellow countrymen not to come to Kenya because we don’t want them in our country