The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday issued a notice warning Kenyans of rampant cases of online fraud.
The authorities revealed a number of techniques and scams employed by the fraudsters that have seen Kenyans lose millions of shillings.
The scams are carried out online and involve the fraudsters' gaining random peoples' trust, access to confidential information and finally, their money.
DCI revealed that some of the most popular scams targeted desperate jobseekers, while others involved non-delivery of goods after payment by online vendors as well as fake social media profiles of prominent individuals used to lure in victims.
The agency described the emerging cases of online fraud as 'overwhelming' as the public was asked to be careful and discerning in their online interactions.
The DCI further advised Kenyans to report to the police as soon as they lost items such as IDs, mobile phones and SIM Cards as they could be used to carry out various online scams landing innocent people in trouble.
This, they explained, also strengthen one's case should they fall victim to online fraudsters.
Here are the seven common online fraud schemes as described by the DCI.
-Online groups luring jobless Kenyan youth with promises of getting them jobs within and abroad.
- Online product vendors who disappear once payments are made in advance.
- Online car hires that never materialize.
-Online cash traders (Forex Exchange)
-Social media sites bearing prominent people's profiles aimed at misleading and extortion,
-Fraudsters making random calls while posing as service providers to cause panic to unsuspecting victims, informing them of possible security breaches to their Bank & M-pesa accounts hence end up revealing their confidential particulars.
-Agencies/Individuals advertising non-existent Rental Houses and/or Plots for sale, who ask for deposits while faking high demands after which they lie low on the victims.
Kenyans were advised to be on the look-out and to report any cases of possible fraud to the police.