A trader operating a mobile money transfer shop along Mfangano Street in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) is counting losses after ignoring safety protocols during a business transaction, ultimately becoming the latest victim of a new scam.
In a video that went viral on Monday, June 26, the suspect approached the trader claiming that police officers had seized his vehicle prompting him to withdraw Ksh40,000 to bribe them to release the car.
The suspect came bearing his mobile phone and presented his national ID as required by these business establishments.
"He pretended to withdraw the amount and asked me to give him Ksh30,000. After pressuring me, I gave him the cash and he left the ID card and phone while promising to come later to collect the remaining Ksh10,000."
"I had not received the text message prompting the transaction but gave him the cash in good faith," she stated.
The suspect then dashed away from the shop as the trader placed his items in a safe storage space. Minutes later, reality sunk in that she had been conned when the suspect didn't return.
"Little did I know that the ID card was not his and the phone was purchased on loan," she noted.
The trader urged business owners to be careful when dealing with transactions and ensure that they conduct their due diligence.
"Kindly in any case you come across him please be careful, or just help out, The guy had an accent. The Location is in Nairobi town along Mfangano street (Near Afya Centre)," she pleaded.
The incident mirrors a similar situation when a trader unearthed a new scam where fraudsters used a message-generating mobile application to con traders.
The fake messages imitated genuine mobile money transaction messages as they conveyed real-time transactions, codes, business names and balances of transactions.
While using the app, the fraudsters would approach shops and use the scheme to purchase expensive products. They would then claim to have made payment and brandish the fake messages as proof of purchase.
To distract traders, they would often claim to be in a hurry to entice the attendant to hand them the goods without confirming payment.
