- An M-Pesa agent in Bomet lost KSh 100,000 after falling victim to a calculated scam by a man posing as a customer
- The devastated woman shared CCTV footage showing the suspect engaging her in conversation before making off with the money
- She explained how she fell for the scam, detailing what the suspect left behind at the shop and seeking help to find him
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An M-Pesa agent in Bomet is appealing for help to identify a man who scammed her out of KSh 100,000 in a calculated and well-executed con.
Source: Facebook
The woman shared CCTV footage capturing the ordeal, including the moment she handed the bundle of cash to the alleged fraudster.
In the clip, the suspect, dressed in a greenish trench coat and blue jeans appears uneasy and suspicious as he pretends to make a withdrawal.
He engages the agent in light conversation, even making her laugh at one point.
As other customers walk in, he politely steps aside to allow them to be served without raising suspicion. Once the shop is empty, he returns to the counter, alone with the agent.
What did Bomet suspect tell M-Pesa agent?
According to the agent, the man claimed he wanted to withdraw a large sum of money.
He waited for a while, pretending to wait for a confirmation message or so she believed.
As time passed, he insisted that the money had already been debited from his account, but that his confirmation message was delayed.
Using this tactic, he manipulated and convinced her to hand over the cash without verifying the transaction on both ends. Unfortunately, she fell into the trap.
Source: Facebook
Did M-Pesa agent hand money to conman?
She counted the money and willingly handed it over. In exchange, the man gave her his phone and national identification card.
He did not bother to confirm the amount; instead, he folded the money, slipped it into his right trouser pocket, thanked her, and hurriedly left, disappearing moments later.
The ID he left behind bore the name Peter Okwena from Kitutu.
Following the huge loss, the agent reported the incident at Bomet Police Station, but the suspect has yet to be found or arrested.
To make matters worse, the young woman was fired from her job after the devastating loss, leaving her jobless and distressed.
Netizens react to Bomet M-Pesa theft
Online users criticised the agent for releasing the money without confirmation and urged business owners to improve CCTV positioning and staff training.
Lauraine Belinder:
“It happens sometimes that the customer gets the transaction SMS, but the agent doesn’t. The agent even calls customer care, and they confirm the transaction. Her mistake was giving out the money before confirmation.”
Mumbi Mumbi:
“Seems the lady is new in the business. A transaction that takes one minute took over five, and she didn’t see a red flag? How did she hand over the cash without a confirmation message? If a customer leaves their ID, the agent should get an abstract immediately.”
Man Chester:
“She was distracted instead of focusing on her job. Who hands out even KSh 100 without receiving their own M-Pesa confirmation message?”
Charles Gakobo Mwangi:
“Business owners should position CCTV cameras properly. Have some behind the counter at human height. A camera positioned up above the head doesn’t help much.”
What did Nairobi thief captured on CCTV steal?
Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported that a man in Nairobi reviewed footage from the CCTV camera installed in his compound.
The clip showed the moment a stranger sneaked into the large compound and stole a battery from a vehicle.
Equipped with a toolbox, he carried out the theft with ease, completely unaware of the camera and made away with the item.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
