This archive report was first published on 11 August 2019.
A Kisumu businessman has fallen victim to bank and mobile phone fraudsters, losing Sh229,894 in a series of M-Pesa withdrawals.
George Omondi, a cattle trader, opened his account at the Kenya Commercial Bank Kisumu West branch on June 14, 2019, and made deposits on June 15 and 17. However, a month later, fraudsters made four successive withdrawals via M-Pesa, leaving him with a paltry Sh1,151 in his new account.
According to Omondi, the fraudsters first made two hefty withdrawals of Sh69,999 each on July 18, followed by a similar withdrawal the next day through a different phone number, and the final withdrawal of Sh20,000 using the same phone number that made the initial withdrawals.
"They keep on asking me questions. They sent several codes to my phone. I was busy in the market so I didn't respond," Omondi said, describing the strange calls he received from people claiming to be bank staff soon after he opened the account.
Despite reporting the matter to the police and the bank, Omondi claims that he was unable to get any assistance. He has since engaged a lawyer to help him recover his lost funds.
"These people have finished me. I had just started the livestock business and now with my money all gone, my world has crumbled," Omondi said, expressing his frustration and despair.
