Kenyans on Twitter have come out in masses to sympathize with a distraught girl who got conned Ksh.10,000 in broad daylight as well as share their sad ordeals.
Conmen in Kenya today have adopted new ways of soliciting money from unsuspecting Kenyans. The sad reality is that none of us is immune to their schemes. From faking being job agents to job hunters, to house agents to house hunters, they have taken up any possible form to steal.
Anyone can be fall victim to a con game, even someone considered too intelligent or sophisticated to be conned.
Sadly no one’s forehead is labeled ‘conman’ and they may be from any gender, whether male or female. This story should serve as a warning to Kenyans to always be cautious and beware of any weird behavior.
Conmen of Mombasa .
A thread:
My mum calls me telling me there a job in town she's been told by some friend she knows So I go apply for it since I'm on school break now and she forwards me the no. She was given I call .— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
I call , a man picks up and asks where I'm at. He asked to meet me in 30mins in town so that he could take me to the office . Funny thing is I was the one inneed of the job but he is the one who kept on calling alot asking how far I'm at .
— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
I got to town and met him at some stage (not even in the office) then he goes like , let's take a tuktuk and head to the office (he was talking non-stop ) saying the boss is a white man the job pays well it's just that the person that was in that position got an accident …
— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
I'm like okay ,this sounds legit . We get to jubilee house in Dox and he asked me to pay for the tuktuk he'll give the money back π .
So he gets in the building we panda some stairs then on the last one he's like I wait down he is going to take to the (white) boss ..— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
Takes 5mins comes back and asks for my papers . I give him … but I'm wondering why I'm not going in with him but what do I know I just need the job so let him do his thing π(only later to find out there was no office he was going to )
— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
Then he comes back with "You need medical cause you know you handling food and I don't know what " so I call my dad cause he knows a doc from Agakhan but he man goes like no you need it from Coast General alaaaaa I'm like okay
— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
So we take another tuk tuk of to coast General and on the way he tells me I got the job but I need to give him 10k and 3k for the medical and my ID. In my head I'm like 10k isn't much cause the job is paying well . We stopped at an mpesa cause apparently he wants cashπ
— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
So I'm at the Mpesa trying to withdraw 13k and this man telling me to hurry up and I'm like ai RELAX ! He's so excited and can't stop talking man.. we got to Coast General then he goes like you'll give me your ID then I will go see the doc to give me your medical papers..
— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
So things happen so fast but I'm Kenyan ku bargain laasssssmaaa nikamshow I only have 10k he goes like okay so quick . Nikampee na ID. Tukashuka tuktuk hakulipa mwenye tuktuk he told him to wait for us π(poorman)
— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
So we get into the hospital it was full of people eeh. Then he tell me to wait at the visitors .. then it hits me that he telling me he's getting my medical but he isn't carrying anypapers or forms to fill HAAAYAAAAAAAYEEEE .
So I quickly call mum …— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
I ask mum who gave her his no.????? So she calls the friend who gave her the no. And he tells her to tell me not to give him any money πππππ
This nigga went with my 10k and my original ID— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
I call him he doesn't pick .
Then he calls me after 10mins like I'M SORRY BUT I GAVE YOUR ID TO THE HUDUMA CENTRE WATCH MAN GO PICK IT and he went mtejaπ©— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
MAACHOOOSSSSSS tu . My mum called and asked if I'm okay I told her I gave him 10kπ he goes like "JESSSUSSSS OOO PLEASE ENDA HOME MBIO KABLA UIBIWE ATA IYO SIMU"
— Becky Moraa (@BeckyMoraa_) June 2, 2019
Becky is but one of the many Kenyans who are conned out of their hard earned money in the blink of an eye. It’s almost like a magic trick, now you see it now you don’t.
It is difficult to spot a con artist by his looks alone. But his words or expressions often give him away. Some of the warning signs in her story include the fact that this man was talking too much and he never let her in any of the rooms.
Cash only transactions are common with them too, and this should raise an immediate red flag to victims. Also, deals involving jobs that are conjured during the weekend should be a warning sign.
One common strategy today’s conman uses is by telling/showing you something they know you want, and then disappearing for ‘an errand’ after you give them money. It’s sad that they pick on our needs, almost as if they can smell our desperation.
The successful con artist approaches victims with a nice guy approach. Behind this friendly exterior is a shrewd psychologist who can break down his victimsβ resistance to his proposals. The typical con artist has a good sense of timing and sincerely believes his victims deserve to be taken advantage of.
Being well-informed and skeptical are your best means of protection.
To avoid being conned, here are sure tips:
- Β Don’t allow them to rush you in anything. Insistence on an immediate decision is a crook strategy.
- Always ask for more information, if possible in written form
- Be cautious of your surroundings at all times
- Don’t provide personal financial informationΒ over the phone unless you are absolutely certain the caller has a bona fide need to know.
- When the deals sounds too good to be true, think twice.
With those in mind, stay woke Kenyans! It’s a cold world out there, stay safe.
Here are some of the empathetic messages Kenyans on Twitter sent the unsuspecting con victim Becky Moraa, as some even narrated their own ordeals:
Pole! All shall be well
— The Edwin Borehβ’ (@EdwinCheruh) June 2, 2019
ππππ
Mtu wa tuktuk hatawahi wasahau— Fafa Mukuruπ¦ (@osoroKE) June 2, 2019
Rudi kisii ukule ndizi tu
— sammieπ°πͺβ’ (@Hitilafu_Meru) June 2, 2019
So my sister gets a call from a friend's friend asking if she needs a job as a cabin crew. She sends him ten k.end of story
— the girl (@Raysoti2008) June 2, 2019
Pole sana,my few Mβs potead back in 2015,the storo is so embarrassing I canβt even narrate it hereπ©π©
— Selestina Maliana (@SMaliana) June 2, 2019
Please, please legit jobs do not ask for money. The minute one asks for money, that's a red flag
— Joan Nyarombe Michie (@NyarombeJoan) June 2, 2019
I was once conned usiku ilikua mrefuπππππ 75k clean money i was not mad juu ya pesa but because i believe that fool and fell into his trap yani siamini nishawai kua mjinga ivyo.
— Queen of Disguise (@NjeriMaina254) June 2, 2019
The thieves have been doing this for so long I dint know they still get customers…
— Githinji Wa Njoroge (@kennethgnjoroge) June 2, 2019
Let me laugh. Coz I am a victim of cool 8k and the only reminder I have is my passport because in 2015 I had secured a job in Rwanda. We have been pinched well in this life.
— βββ βββ‘π¨ (@Keymani_dav) June 2, 2019
On 2August 2017, I was conned Ksh 30000 in Mikindani, Kwa Mwanzia. I have never told this story to the end. I will look for the guy later.
— Ogello (@OgelloSays) June 2, 2019
So far nimeconiwa 1k only which I sent out of desperation after I had graduated- though mine wAs stupidπππ – I came to my senses the next day when I was supposed to meet the cob & he went off when I arrived at the venueππ Nairobi GPO ππ€¦π½ββοΈ weee sitasahau
— #Eliud159 (@yaf_ramo) June 2, 2019
ππππ my siz wa conned too ati anatafitiwa job brookside.. Alituma around 6k za uniform job id na gate pass.. Day ya kureport aliwakol akiwa kwa gate simu iko mteja. π aki kenyans
Funny thing hzi vitu hutokana na family members.. Our cousin ndo alimrefer to that guy.— shiqueπ°πͺ (@MirriamShiqoh) June 3, 2019
Ukiona "employer" seems desperate kukuliko, RUN
— ian (@okakaian) June 2, 2019
Hebu post his number…I had the same experience. he knew my three names, id number and my profession. Alafu wanapeleka mtu mbio
— cate ndinda (@catendinda371) June 2, 2019
He sounds exactly like this guy who conned you but he sadly met the wrong person(me)I asked Him a lot of questions so he kept on ending the call & calling back that was my first π© red flag
— #Eliud159 (@yaf_ramo) June 2, 2019
These guys who con people under the guise of lucrative jobs are the worst coz wanajua there are no jobs and people are desperate…ππ
— Average-Size Batty Gyal (@cassandragulo) June 3, 2019