Fraudsters are setting up fake physical interviews in high-end hotels, tricking desperate graduates into paying 'interview fees' and surrendering their valuables during staged physical fitness tests.
On February 7, 2026, Ms Lillian Chemitei, 35, was scrolling on Facebook when she saw posts of an advertisement by a Nairobi-based firm.
Convinced that the advertisement was real and legitimate, the Food Nutrition and Dietetics graduate applied for the job through a link that was provided.
Little did she know she was falling victim to a con game.
“The advert looked genuine, complete with job requirements, how to apply and a link that directed job seekers to the company website. So I applied and was called for a physical interview to seal the deal,” recalled Ms Chemitei.
According to Ms Chemitei, the conmen set up an interview for tens of job seekers in a well-known hotel in the city and, by the end of the interview, they (job seekers) lost their laptops, phones and all their belongings, together with Sh5, 000 they had been asked to pay as an “interview fee.”
“I was shortlisted and called for an interview. So, on the material day, I travelled from Nakuru and was in Nairobi by 8am, and the interview process began,” narrated Ms Chemitei.
“At the hotel, we were to go through an oral, written and physical fitness interview. After the oral interview, we were told to change into our gym kits and leave our belongings in the hotel, after being assured that they would be safe. On returning from the physical fitness test, everything was gone—our mobile phones, laptops, handbags and other personal belongings. I travelled back to Nakuru wearing a gym kit,” she explained.
She did not report the incident at any police station because of shame.
In yet another incident, on December 12, 2025, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives arrested a man at Kamukunji in Nairobi who fraudulently received Sh450, 000 and promised to offer the victim employment as a police officer.
His arrest came hot on the heels of another sting operation in Ngara, Nairobi, where three more scammers were rounded up after police got wind of a racket selling fake NPS calling letters to desperate job seekers.
At the scene, police found 10 youths who had been conned between Sh600, 000 and Sh700, 000 for letters purportedly admitting them to NPS Main Campus, Kiganjo.
John, not his real name, was also conned while pursuing a job opportunity.
On March 9, John, not his real name, a graduate with an engineering degree from the University of Nairobi, learned of an advertisement of a lucrative job from a friend.
Since it was from a trusted friend, John did not bother to do much due diligence.
After all, he had been jobless for four years and was desperate for a job.
He applied for the job using details provided on the website that claimed to belong to a Nairobi-based Information Technology (IT) firm.
“After the interviews, I was called three days later and told I had secured a job in the company. They then required me to pay some money to cater for what they said were uniforms and other things I would be required to use at the job premises. I didn’t have cash, so I borrowed from friends and wired Sh20, 000 to the caller, knowing everything was genuine. After that, the caller went missing. I never heard from him again,” he recalled.
“I later learnt I was not alone. More than 40 other jobseekers were also conned in the same way,” he told the Nation.
Three months ago, DCI detectives in Kiambu County busted a fake Jumia Kenya page and arrested three suspects in connection with the online fraud.
The operation followed a report made by a victim who lost Sh105, 000 on March 29, 2026, through a deceptive Facebook page operating under the name “Jumia Shop KE.”
The page posed as a legitimate online marketplace, advertising household items at heavily discounted prices to lure buyers.
A user accessing WhatsApp on phone.
According to the report, the victim contacted the sellers via the listed WhatsApp number and, after selecting an item, he was issued a Paybill and account number for payment.
He transferred the full amount in good faith, but the promised delivery was never made.
Acting on the complaint, DCI detectives launched a targeted intelligence-led operation that led them to an apartment in the OJ area of Ruiru along the Eastern Bypass, where they arrested the three suspects believed to be behind the fraudulent operation.
The suspects were apprehended while aboard a maroon Mazda Demio.
These are just examples of incidents in which Kenyans have fallen victim to well-designed con games.
From sweet deals, pyramid schemes to promises of lucrative jobs and offers of cheaper services, conmen and women have found it easy to mint money, exploiting the soft underbelly of gullible Kenyans.
Thousands of Kenyans have fallen victim to job scams that promised them a future but left them with nothing.
Most jobless youth borrowed and even sold their belongings, believing they were securing legitimate jobs, but ended up with regrets and a stolen future.
Investors have also fallen victim to con games.
Some investors are blinded by the promise of quick riches.
Few ask the important questions on the source of the promised returns and have no time for due diligence.
The result has been painful investment losses.
For instance, Kenyans have in the past two decades lost an estimated Sh10 billion to fraudulent investment schemes, with small-scale traders forming the bulk of victims.
A consumer protection survey conducted last month found that about 82 percent of those who invested in dubious high-return schemes lost their money.
From sophisticated financial pyramid schemes to simple phone scams, Kenya has literally become a playground of con games.
Experts attribute this trend to high levels of unemployment, poverty-driven desperation, desire for quick money, love for shortcuts by Kenyans and legal loopholes, where fraudsters re-emerge under new guises even after conning people.
According to Dr James Ombati, a security expert, the ruthless tricksters take advantage of high unemployment and desperation levels to dupe job seekers at their lowest moments.
“The high unemployment levels in the country, especially among the youth, and poverty-driven desperation mostly makes Kenyans gullible to con games. When you are desperate, you tend to fall for things easily,” Dr Ombati told the Nation.
“But again, the allure of get-rich-quick schemes and love of shortcuts by Kenyans leads people to being conned,” he added.
Whereas Peter Githinji, a real estate developer, agrees that unemployment, coupled with desperation, drives Kenyans into the trap of conmen and women, he says widespread pressure for quick riches is also to blame.
“There is widespread social pressure for easy money and quick riches. Tricksters commonly exploit this by promising heaven on earth or too-good-to-be-true investment returns,” explained Mr Githinji.
Lawyer Steve Kabita, on the other hand, blames widespread conning on a lack of adequate laws to fight the vice.
“A lack of strict laws specifically targeting pyramid schemes and the ability of conmen and women to settle cases out of court means masterminds often go free, only to re-emerge later with new scams. As a country, we should deal firmly with cons,” stated lawyer Kabita.
Several public and private firms have also been keen on flagging fake adverts targeting the youth on social media sites, with jobs ranging from military to National Police Service, Teachers Service Commission and the medical field.
Kenya Railways is the latest to warn the public against fraudulent job advertisements.
In a statement signed by Managing Director Philip Mainga dated April 19, 2026, Kenya Railways warned Kenyans against fraudsters impersonating the State agency, who have been luring job seekers with fake employment opportunities.
“Kenya Railways wishes to alert the public of fraudsters impersonating the Corporation by advertising fake job vacancies and soliciting money from unsuspecting job seekers. Be advised that all vacancies are published only on the official website (www.krc.co.ke) and in national daily newspapers. Applications are submitted strictly through official job links on the website,” reads part of the statement by Mr Mainga.
“Kenya Railways does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, shortlisting, interviews or appointment. Any person or entity demanding payment in the name of Kenya Railways is fraudulent. Kenya Railways urges members of the public to remain vigilant, disregard such advertisements and verify all information through official Kenya Railways channels,” further reads the statement.
On March 26, 2026, the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) also cautioned the public against fraudsters who it said were purporting to be company officials offering procurement opportunities.
In a notice, the company noted that the fraudsters have been attempting to extort money from unsuspecting suppliers in exchange for purported tender opportunities.
“It has come to our attention that fraudulent individuals are posing as GDC officials and soliciting kickbacks from suppliers. Our tendering process is transparent. All available tenders are on our website www.gdc.co.ke. Official numbers are +254719037000 or +2540719036500,” it added.
The announcement came a day after the Tana Water Works Development Agency also cautioned members of the public, suppliers and contractors against fraudsters.
“We have learnt that some fraudsters have been making phone calls to individuals and inviting them to meetings under the pretence of offering procurement contracts at the agency while demanding advance payments. We wish to alert the public and inform them that no individual is required to make any payment in advance to secure a contract or any other opportunity,” stated a statement by the agency.
Others that have in the past warned the public against fraudsters include the Office of the Auditor General, which last year cautioned Kenyans against scammers soliciting money for employment opportunities, the Social Health Authority (SHA) and Safaricom.
President William Ruto poses for group photo with MPs who are supporting SHA through their CDF funds during the launch of the SHA Sponsorship at State House, Nairobi on September 19, 2025.
On July 4, 2025, a few months after President William Ruto launched SHA, the agency raised an alarm over fake job advertisements that were being circulated on social media platforms.
On the advertisements, each job posting on social media was assigned what appeared to be official job codes, such as SHA/HR25 for Human Resource Officers and SHA/PSY25 for counsellors.
It also included details of job descriptions and an application deadline set for July 7, 2025.
The professional appearance of the advert caused a stir among many job seekers, some of whom began sharing the poster widely, hoping for an opportunity in the competitive health sector.
But amid the worrying trend, where fraudsters are employing technology and every trick in the book to con Kenyans, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) warns the public to be vigilant.
“We have a special team to deal with fraudsters and scammers and we have been conducting crackdowns across the country. The DCI is committed to staying ahead of criminal syndicates,” revealed DCI Director Mohamed Amin.
“But we wish to caution the public that when a deal looks too good to be true, think twice. Always do your due diligence before sending money or giving important information like passwords or PIN numbers to any person or business,” added Mr Amin.
According to a senior DCI detective, fraudsters often use technology to create convincing counterfeit adverts and websites bearing logos and references to legitimate government institutions, intending to trick applicants into submitting sensitive personal information or paying bogus application or processing fees.
“Scammers are increasingly using AI to create convincing messages bearing logos and other crucial details of companies. Always ignore urgent, unsolicited messages requiring payment or crucial personal details,” warned the officer.
“Members of the public should exercise caution when conducting online transactions. They are advised to verify the authenticity of online sellers and questionable websites, to avoid making payments to unverified accounts or falling for con games,” he added.
Nearly half of Kenyan mobile phone owners received an extortionist scam call or text message during the year ended last December
How to avoid scams
1. Do not share passwords, PINs or sensitive personal details over the phone
2. Resist pressure or urgency from scammers to act immediately
3. Be wary of “too good to be true” deals and offers
4. Verify sellers, companies, websites and institutions using official contacts before taking action
5. Enable multi-factor authentication on all accounts
6. Treat unsolicited calls, emails and messages as suspicious, even if they appear official
7. Ignore fake money reversal messages, especially on M-PESA
8. Regularly monitor bank accounts and credit activity for suspicious transactions
9. Be careful about online services sales from unverified, untraceable sellers
10. Remember, legitimate employers do not request job application, training or processing fees
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