The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has warned university students and Kenyans at large to beware of scammers masquerading as its officials and defrauding unsuspecting victims of their money.
In an official notice issued on Thursday, March 20, the board revealed that it was aware of an ongoing trend on social media where fraudsters have been targeting unsuspecting individuals, stealing their money under the guise of offering HELB services.
"Scammers are out here pretending to offer HELB services to trick unsuspecting social media users into sending money. Stay alert," the notice read in part.
The board emphasised that all its services are offered free of charge and advised anyone seeking assistance to communicate through its official channels.
HELB provides various services to support students in accessing and managing financial assistance for higher education. It offers loans to students pursuing higher education in universities and technical institutions.
These loans help cover tuition fees, accommodation, and other education-related expenses.
Fraudsters often prey on unsuspecting students trying to access loans from HELB. In addition to posing as HELB officials, these scammers deceive students by demanding payment to allegedly activate their accounts.
Another trick used by the scammers is deceiving students into paying a fee for their HELB loans to be processed. Students have been advised to be on high alert for these and other tactics used by fraudsters.
The board urged students to always follow its verified social media platforms for any communications regarding financial matters.
The warning comes barely two days after President William Ruto directed HELB to disburse Ksh1.56 billion to students and trainees across various institutions in Kenya for tuition and upkeep.
Following Ruto's directive, more than 65,000 students from different institutions are set to receive the funds in their accounts, providing much-needed financial relief.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed that currently, all students set to benefit from the loans have been notified of the disbursements through HELB's official communication channels and advised them to check their HELB portals.
