This archive report was first published on 20 July 2019.
It was during my university days that I first encountered a woman known as Mad, who introduced me to the world of pyramid schemes. Her mother, a teacher, owned a school in Nanyuki, and Mad convinced us that investing in the scheme would yield substantial returns. However, I soon realized that the 'investment' was nothing more than a scam, and I lost 900 Bob in the process.
Looking back, I was naive and blinded by the promise of easy money. But I was not alone. A recent incident involving a young woman in Nairobi, who was scammed out of Sh30,000 by a stranger she met online, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of falling prey to con artists.
As I reflect on my experience, I realize that con artists often prey on our desire for luck, quick bucks, and love for shortcuts. They exploit our greed and naivety, making us believe that something too good to be true is actually possible. But the truth is, we always see it coming – that niggly wiggly feeling at the back of our mind that something is not quite right.
So, what can we learn from this? Firstly, believe people when they show you who they are. Don't try to change them or think that you're an exception. If a business deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. And if you look at a situation or a person and think, 'this can't be true,' you're probably right.
