This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
Published on September 26, 2019, a Nairobi resident's social media post has shed light on a new online con game that has been targeting unsuspecting buyers in the city.
The scammer, who posed as a seller on OLX, would list items at significantly lower prices than their actual value, often using fake profiles and aliases to avoid detection.
One victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, recounted his experience with the scammer, who went by the name 'Jack' on OLX. The scammer had listed a sofa set for 45,000 Kenyan shillings, a price that seemed too good to be true.
After agreeing to purchase the sofa, the scammer asked the victim to pay 43,000 Kenyan shillings, claiming that he would deliver the item and then collect the payment. However, when the victim's driver arrived to inspect the sofa, he noticed that the scammer's accent was different from the one he had claimed to be from.
Upon further investigation, the victim discovered that the scammer had no intention of selling the sofa and was instead using the OLX platform to lure victims into a trap. The scammer would then use the victim's money to purchase the item from the original seller, leaving the victim with nothing.
The victim was lucky to have escaped the scam, but many others may not be so fortunate. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for online buyers, highlighting the importance of being vigilant and doing thorough research before making any purchases.
