No one wants to lose their hard-earned cash, ever. But you’ll be shocked to learn that it happens everyday, even to the most cautious Kenyans. Here are some con artist baits you should be aware of to avoid falling victim.
1. The Matatu Sleight of Hand: A trick that is just about as old as the Michuki rules that changed the public transport industry (for a while). A man sits next to you in a matatu. Nothing innocuous about that besides the large bag, envelope or jacket that he places right across your lap. A fellow passenger (most likely behind you) exclaims that he has spotted the police and that you must quickly wear your seatbelt. Once you are scrambling for the seatbelt, they strike! The large item the man sitting next to you is, in fact, a shield to hide his sinister deeds! Before you know it, your pockets are emptied, your handbag ransacked. Goodbye wallet, goodbye phone.
2. The Home disadvantage: This con is all about someone gaining your confidence. Your apartment hunt has hit a dead end; rent prices are way above your budget and the places you can afford aren’t quite up to your standards. Then you see an advert. Is it too good to be true? Perfect location and right on budget. You talk to the owner, a retired general or doctor, over the phone and as you might expect, there’s a lot of interest in the place. You hurriedly pay a deposit through mpesa to secure the place. When you go over to see your soon to be residence, the watchman jolts you to reality, there is no General; there is no Doctor. You call the number; “mteja wa nambari…” (the mobile subscriber you’re trying to reach is not available).
3. Car Troubles: You are in the market for a car. Perhaps a nice gently used Japanese vehicle. After trying to import one from abroad, you feel that the search is finally over. You spot an advert for a good looking car with low mileage at a fraction of what you thought it would it cost. The best part? It is much closer to home, in a town just outside of Nairobi, where you live.
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You call the owner and discover that the reason behind the great deal is that he needs to leave the country urgently and is looking to raise money for a flight ticket. He can bring the car to you, all you have to do is send him a little money for fuel, and that seems fair. On his way to Nairobi, he gets into some trouble with the police. You know Kenyan police! You need to bail him out. Finally, car trouble. He needs your help. He’s come this far after all. You send him more money. An hour after you should have met, you’re still dialing his number. No answer. Again. No answer.
4. The Phone Cheat: You receive a phone call informing you that a parcel has been sent to you from abroad by a cousin. The caller is a good friend of that cousin. Once you meet the ‘good friend’ in question, he or she tells you that your parcel is in a car, and the driver needs to be called to bring it to you. As they call, their battery dies. No problem, however, they can just use your phone. But they may need to put their SIM card in your phone because they can’t seem to remember the driver’s phone number. Nothing suspicious about that. Watch him as he speaks to the driver, slowly walking away with your phone only turning to say mouth, “I’m coming.” Never to return.
5. Trouble at the ATM: A lady seems to be having trouble with the ATM. It just won’t work. He keeps turning sheepishly at you until she eventually swallows her pride and asks for help. You instantly remember the story of the Good Samaritan and jump to the rescue. It wasn’t that difficult a problem to fix, but she doesn’t need to know. Her withdrawal made; she happily leaves you standing at the ATM to do your transaction. Smile! You just aided and abetted a criminal, and your face is all over the CCTV. (TUKO.CO.KE)
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