How Fraudsters Are Preying on Young Kenyan Women with Promises of a Good Life Abroad

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has warned of fraudsters preying on young Kenyan women on social media.

The DCI says the women are lured with promises of a good life abroad but end up being swindled their hard-earned money. 

The warning comes after detectives based at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) got alarmed by the high number of young ladies thronging the airport ostensibly to collect gifts sent by their online ‘suitors.’  

“However, upon arrival, they are shocked to realize that they have been conned and no such packages exist,” the DCI says.

The scammers allegedly pose as successful businessmen, with their social media timelines packed with photos of their supposed expensive lifestyles.

They promise their victims blissful lives overseas and offer to send them expensive gifts to prove how serious they are.

One of the cases involved a 28-year-old lady who met a man online, who claimed to be living in the UK.

After chatting for some days, the man told the woman that he had sent her some gold necklaces and other assorted jewelry as proof of his undying affection.

The gullible lady was later telephoned by a person who identified himself as a customs agent based at JKIA, informing her that he had received her shipment from abroad.  

She was asked to pay Sh52,000 landing fee and facilitate the clearance of the package before collecting it but upon arrival at the airport, the supposed agent’s phone went answered. 

Preliminary investigations by JKIA-based detectives established that the fraudsters mainly operate from Kisumu and Kiambu.

“While we work round the clock to bring the suspects to book, we wish to caution young ladies to be wary of such fraudsters who may end up tricking them into more dangerous situations, some of which may cost them their lives,” the DCI adds.