Online Scams & Fraud in Kenya
Online scams and fraud have become an increasingly common occurrence in Kenya in recent years, fueled by the rapid growth of the internet and digital technology. In fact, Kenya lost over $120 million to scams in 2021. As more and more people access the internet and use digital platforms for various reasons, scammers have set traps to dupe unsuspecting individuals and businesses out of their hard-earned money.
With online fraud not a high priority among the government and other organizations, there is a need for people to be more vigilant. Read on to find out where you can report scams in Kenya and how to check for scams.
Scam Statistics in Kenya
The key statistics on online fraud in Kenya, according to the Global Anti Scam Alliance.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Population | 49.95 million | 50.95 million | 53.7 Million | 55 million |
| Internet Penetration | 86% | 84% | 87% | 84% |
| # of Scams | ||||
| Scams / 1,000 | ||||
| Money Lost | € 251.6 million | € 108.98 million | ||
| Money Lost / Capita | € 4.68 | € 1.97 | ||
| Money Lost / Report |
The figures in the table will differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending on availability.
Where Can I Report a Scam in Kenya?
- Kenyan police: You can report any online scam or fraud to the nearest police station or to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation at +254 020 3343312. +254 020 7202000.
- Communications Authority of Kenya (CA): The Communications Authority of Kenya regulates the communications sector in Kenya and is responsible for addressing issues related to online scams and cybercrime. You can call them on +254703 042 000 or +254 730 172 000 on weekdays from 8.00am to 5.00pm EAT. You can also drop us an email on info@ca.go.ke.
- Kenya Computer Incident Response Team (KE-CIRT/CC): KE-CIRT/CC is the national computer incident response team for Kenya. They coordinate responses to cybersecurity incidents and can provide assistance in handling online scams. You can email them on incident@kenyacirt.go.ke or call +254 20 263 3055.
- Consumer Authority Kenya- Consumers can file a complaint here through the post, Email, telephone call, or by walking into the Authority’s offices.
How to Report a Scam in Kenya
Reporting a scam is crucial. At the moment, only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0.05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.
- Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other information relevant. This is needed to file a complete report.
- Report the incident: Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
- Stop the Money: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
- Protect yourself: Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the ScamAdviser browser extension to warn you of scams.
Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.
Scam Victim Support in Kenya
We could not find any scam victim support groups in Kenya.
How to Check for a Scam in Kenya
Of course, you can always check for scams on ScamAdviser.com. However, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services as well.
- The Capital Markets Authority of Kenya- You can check investment and trading scams here.
Anti-Scam Organizations & Consumer Authorities
- The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA)- offers online safety awareness tips to help users avoid financial-related fraud.
- The national KE-CERT- is an organization set up by the Communications Authority and covers cybersecurity threats.
Popular Scams in Kenya
M-pesa SIM swap scams
With over 80% of Kenyans using Mobile wallets such as M-pesa, it has become a rich hunting ground for scammers. One of the most common types of M-pesa scams is the SIM swap scam. Here scammers will bypass the two-step verification process and contact the user asking for personal information.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in February 2023 unearthed a huge syndicate that has swindled over 500 million Kenyan shillings ($3.8 million). The 8 suspects arrested in this case had thousands of Safaricom SIM cards as well asc SIM registration kits.
In some cases, fraudsters have swept clean users' savings from both their mobile money wallets and bank accounts by registering new SIM cards. In collaboration with criminals selling Safaricom SIM cards, M-pesa’s parent company, uses the victim’s ID details to register or replace new SIM cards. With this, they are able to access the M-pesa wallet and sweep every last coin.
To avoid this, always replace your ID card in case you lose it or misplace it. Furthermore don’t share your details with anyone, especially over calls or text messages. Report any Forward the fraudster's number or message to 333 on your Safaricom line.
Scam News From Kenya
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As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu
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