Woe unto you if you fall to these online fraudsters

By our reporter

Kenyans are frantically seeking jobs, decent or otherwise. With the rampart growth of technology, a lot of businesses have shifted online.

The government of Kenya through the ministry of ICT has advised youth to embrace technology and tap into online businesses.

However, despite the sumptuous benefits, there are those biting their lips in regret after stepping into traps that on the surface were indelible breakthroughs.

They have fallen prey to predators, who lead a lavish lifestyle as their humiliated victims struggle to put a meal on the table.

Then reality dawned when the three weeks elapsed but there was no payment that was done.

George Wafula, another victim

Sponsored Content

By Vostine Ratemo

Recently, a firm branded Adatam Adverts entered the market, wooing job seekers to join in as marketers.

The terms are attractive. With a registration fee of only Ksh200, you are good to go. All you have to do is accept the terms and use your WhatsApp platform to advertise various commodities daily, earning Ksh10 per single view.

Doesn’t cost much, does it? But your engagement stops there – at registration. Yet you have no one to complain to as their offices cannot be traced.

Lilian Amase says that she was introduced to the business by a friend.

Inspired by the urge to help people with health complications like cancer, arthritis and High Blood Pressure, Joseph Muongeri decided to grow herbs and indigenous plants which are full of vitamins and nutrients.

Muongeri, a botanist with diverse experience of over 40 years, set up Country Flavors at Green Market Nyotu Road, commonly referred to as 4th Avenue in Ong`ata Rongai, Kajiado County.

All his herbs are grown in Olooloitikoshi Delights in Birika. Muongeri owns a hotel in the farm.

Naiza Cereals, along Kenya Commercial Bank road opposite Osiligi building, serves as a branch of Country

“I used to see my friend posting different commodities on her WhatsApp status daily and I became curious. I asked her if she had opened a shop, but she said she was just working for a certain advertising agency,” Lilian reveals.

She was excitingly interested. Going through the process of registration promptly, she was informed she would accumulate her earnings for 21 days, upon whose expiry she would be paid her dues.

“After sending the Ksh200 via the till number 9171211, I was sent a number [+254 113700008] where I forwarded the message to affirm that I have paid, accompanied with a text indicating my name and code of the one who referred me,” she added.

A code was sent to her together with a confirmation message that read, ‘welcome to Adatam Adverts. Use the code during the referrals. Your registration was successful….blah blah blah. It was a long incoherent message, but to the effect that you cannot fully depend on the interactive process to get products you should promote. All the same it ended with a ‘thank you’.

According to her, she was to post the