In recent years, many Kenyans have fallen victim to digital scams disguised as unique online marketing programs.
These scams feature user-friendly web portals, significant social media presence and are widely promoted on messaging apps including Whatsapp and Telegram. Essentially, they promise recruits substantial earnings based on their ability to refer others to join the platforms.
They may also offer other options for users to make money, but significant revenue is guaranteed only through referrals. As many have painfully realized in the past, such schemes are unsustainable and often crash, leading to major losses for investors.
One such scheme currently sweeping across the country has seen several Kenyans scramble to join it. Many were encouraged to sign up after confirming that payments were actually being made out to those who signed up and referred others.
This, however, is a common sign of many such schemes. In a similar scam that saw thousands of Kenyans lose out in 2017, those who got in early earned various amounts and were encouraged to plough back money into the scheme only for it to crash as more people joined, with no way for victims to recover their investments.
Screenshots seen by Kenyans.co.ke revealed that the new scam was being popularized in an elaborate strategy including deceit and the use of fake mobile money transfer screenshots.
Upon paying a subscription fee, new recruits are added to chat groups meant to offer them tips and advise on how to maximise their earnings.
As the screenshots revealed, however, recruits are sent a trove of fake messages to use to convince others to sign up for them to earn money.
Among the fake messages are mobile money transactions indicating that users had received large sums of cash from the referral programs. New recruits are asked to pass the screenshots as their own in a bid to get others to sign up.
It is an effective strategy, as the promise of quick riches is too good for many to pass up. Such schemes also regularly use social media videos depicting lavish lifestyles as evidence of the schemes' credibility.
One Dennis*, who lost money to a similar scam in 2017, told Kenyans.co.ke that he was convinced to sign up after seeing his friends earn money from the program.
"At the time everyone was talking about it, it was on everyone's status and the links were in all the groups, so I didn't see how so many people could be wrong.
"And my friends showed me actual payments they received after making referrals so I joined when there were a lot of people, and one day the site just went offline and they stopped responding to queries," he recalled.
Kenyans are advised to undertake due dilligence before signing up for any such programs. This includes ensuring the organization is registered and has the necessary permits at national and county level.
