A new investigation has uncovered how thousands of Kenyans are being duped into an elaborate recruitment scam on the popular social media app TikTok.
The Guardian recently released details of the new fraud scheme, which tends to exploit the growing Kenyan audience on TikTok, with the scammers going to great lengths to appear legitimate.
Part of their plans to appear genuine involves using TikTok to show office setups, envelopes with supposed visas and documents with logos of real companies abroad.
They then share videos promoting their 'business', urging job seekers who wish to work abroad to get in contact with them and once this is done, they ask for a "processing fee" or deposit, which can range from Ksh100,000 to over Ksh500,000.
The payments are presented as mandatory for securing work visas, covering medical checks among other administrative processes and once the money is transferred, the scammers provide forged documents or letters from supposed foreign employers, giving the impression of authenticity.
In some cases, the fake recruiters go to the lengths of conducting interviews via Zoom or other platforms with multiple candidates to create the illusion of a real recruitment process.
One victim narrated how, while scrolling through TikTok, she came across a page offering hassle-free work visas for jobs across Europe.
“They were showing work permits they’d received, envelopes, like: ‘We have Europe visas already,’” she recalled, adding that she sent Ksh150,000 to the alleged agency, which boasted over 20,000 followers on TikTok.
More than a dozen such agencies have since been flagged on TikTok, and it has been established that they are not registered with the National Employment Authority, effectively rendering them unlawful.
Another Kenyan who lost Ksh350,000 in the elaborate scheme revealed that he was convinced it was legitimate because the 'agency' came complete with an office.
“When you’re desperate, you tend to fall for things easily. The office was good, in a good building, nice location, well arranged, several staff – I got the idea that this is something that is good," he explained.
According to the investigation, scammers also capitalise on the urgency of job seekers and the appeal of overseas work. This makes it easy to manipulate emotions and bypass scepticism.
In July, Labour CS Alfred Mutua urged victims of recruitment scams to report the matter to authorities for possible action and reimbursement.
To facilitate a crackdown, the CS also announced the formation of a multi-agency task force to expedite the investigation and prosecution of the scammers and rogue travel agencies.
