How to Protect Your Biz and Yourself From Scammers Online

Picture this: you're casually checking emails, when suddenly, there's a message promising you millions from an “urgent business deal” or a “five figure job online.” Sounds tempting, right? Welcome to the wild, wild web, where scammers are lurking like bad Wi-Fi signals, waiting for you to click on their bait. But don’t worry, we’re about to dive into the hilarious and downright ridiculous ways these fraudsters operate—and how you can protect yourself and your business like the cyber warrior you didn’t know you were! 

HOW SAFE IS YOUR BUSINESS AGAINST ONLINE SCAMMING? 

Kama mtu hupiga biz, hauezi sema uko sure your business is protected enough. Security ya biz yako inadepend na measures umeweka in place against online scams. Kila siku maScammers hukam na scam mpya. This is because they keep realizing kuna gaps kadhaa kwa biashara kubwa na ndogo. Lazima you keep educating yourself. Kama umeandika wasee wera kwa biz yako, you can also educate them from time to time. And kama individual, pia ni poa kukua cautious against being scammed. 

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT SCAM TRENDS IN KENYA? 

Wakati biz yako inaanza kujulikana, then you are likely to be an easy target ya online scammers. Biashara inafanya poa iko na profits, imejijengea jina na customers wanaiaminia. But scammers do not spare small businesses either. Hakuna yeyote ambaye yuko safe. Some of the scams trends include social media impersonation, partnership scams, payment scams to mention a few. Kama deal inakaa too good to be true, it's time you looked it up twice.    TIP! A hot scam at this moment is the Affiliate Marketing Scam! David explains what it is and how you can avoid falling for it [https://mesh.life/app/watch...

SOCIAL MEDIA IMPERSONATION 

Social media impersonation uhappen when a scammer anafungua a fake profile using your business’s name, logo, or personal details to deceive unsuspecting customers. Wanaeza contact customers wenye wamekufollow wakiwaambia that the old account is hacked so they are moving to the new account. Some might even ask your customers for money, damaging reputation ya biz yako. Some scammers will hack your personal account and borrow money from your family and friends. 

How to Avoid Social Media Impersonation

Some of the ways you can avoid impersonation include: 

• Verify Accounts: Make sure social media handles zako ziko verified na blue tick. Keep applying for verification hadi uipate. 

• Monitor for Fake Accounts: From time to time, jaribu kuangalia kama kuna pages ziko na jina kama ya biashara yako or personal account name kaam yako. Hio inakufanya ukue rada. 

• Report Scams: Report fake accounts zenye fake profiles before waibie wasee most. 

• Educate Customers: From time to time, inform your audience that you can only engage with them on the official social media pages. 

• Use Strong Passwords: Secure your account(s) against hacking by kutumia passwords strong. 

In case social media account yako iko hacked, kila platform iko na help centre that can help you. Unaingia unareport account na unawashow they temporarily freeze your account as you try to recover it. . 

JOB SCAMS 

Currently, hakuna works in Kenya. Inabidi msee ukue creative ndio usilale njaa. Often, sisi huenda online kusaka opportunities. Inaeza kua unaGoogle kupata something related to what your area of expertise is or even use LinkedIn kuona nani amepost wera. Scammers wa jobs hukua wengi. They deceive you into giving money through an application fee, kujaza personal information in a sheet or questionnaire. Two infamous job scams are Mara Resort and Aero Cargo [https://pesacheck.org/how-t...   Some of the details you should not share online when seeking a job include: 

• ID Numbers 

• Bank account details 

• Your bank cards information 

• Passwords 

• Personal address 

• Personal photos 

Early in the hiring process, the employer does not ask for personal documents and information. Hizi details huombwa later on. If you also see an email ya application ni ya gmail, kuna high possibility ni scam (e.g hiringmanager@gmail.com [hiringmanager@gmail.com]) Another way to be on high alert is websites that use http instead of https kwenye links za websites za kazi. Jobs legit hutumia official websites that are secure (https) na domain emails and not personal emails. 

How to Avoid Job Scams

Some of the ways to avoid job scams include: 

• Verify Job Postings Through Official Websites: Ukiona job iko posted ya organization fulani, go to their website and see if they are hiring. More often, utapata kama wanataka employees watapost kwa official websites ama pages. 

• Be Skeptical for Job Offerings Asking for a Fee: Mtu yeyote anakuomba pesa ya application ya kazi is highly likely kukua mkora. 

• Avoid Sharing Personal Information: Please make sure you do not share personal information online while making an application for a job. 

• Use Reputable Agencies to Seek Employment: Ukitaka kutafuta job ukitumia agency, please use reputable agencies. Most legit agencies are registered under the National Employment Authority(NEA) [https://neaims.go.ke/]. The most common agencies include: 

• Brighter Monday [https://www.brightermonday....

• Summit recruit and search Africa [https://www.summitrecruitme...

• Flexipersonel [https://www.flexi-personnel...

LOAN SCAMS 

Loan scams involve fake lenders who promise people easy access loans, regardless of credit history. Scammers wengi watakushow watakupea loan hata kama uko CRB. They then proceed to tell you uwapee processing fees ya loan. Others wanakuomba personal information wakidai that the information will be used to verify that you are Kenyan. They then go ahead and ask for your bank account mahali watatuma pesa. These scams zinaAffect both individuals and businesses that are in desperate need of cash without a guarantor.     TIP: Loan scammers even build fake apps! Be on the lookout. [https://mesh.life/app/viewa...

Hawa scammers utapata adverts zao kwa email, phone calls, ama websites zinakaa legit. The loans never materialize, and the victim loses money through upfront payment or falls victim to identity theft. 

How to Avoid Loan Scams

Some of the ways to keep yourself safe from loan scammers include: 

• Be Wary of Lenders Who Offer Loans Without Looking at Your Credit Score: Mse yeyote anakushow atakupea loan bila kujali credit score is highly likely to be a scammer. 

• Avoid Offers That Want Advance Fee: Any lender anadai advance fee ya loan si trustworthy kabisa. 

• Check Lenders Reviews Online: Fanya research yako ujue kama the lender ni mtu legit. Legit lenders wako listed kwa website ya Central Bank [https://www.centralbank.go.ke/]. Navigate hio website then you check kwa  section ya “Licenced Credit Provider.” 

SUPPLIER SCAMS 

Supplier scams huwa zinatarget watu wa biashara sana. The scammers impersonate a legitimate supplier promising to give goods and services at an affordable rate. Scammers wanaeza kutumia a fake invoice ndio ulipia good and services hawakufanyia kazi. You have to be keen usichotwe.  

How to Avoid Supplier Scams

At times, your business can be scammed because time zingine we pay for several expenses mara moja. These are some ways unaeza avoid kukua scammed: 

• Cross-check Invoices: Before ulipe invoice yeyote, go through it and confirm kama ushawai fanya orders kama hizo. 

• Verify Suppliers: Contact your suppliers na channel of communication that is known kwa biz. 

• Be Cautious: Ukiona mtu ana kupea goods ama services with a price that is suspiciously lower, then itabidi ufwatilie to know if they're legit. 

TIP: Watch MESHER David Chege explain supplier scams. [https://mesh.life/app/watch...

HACKER ACTIVITIES 

Hacker activities means various ways cybercriminals breach a business’s online security systems to steal sensitive data. Scammers wanaeza kukuLock out ya accounts zako. Wengine watakutishia na wadai ransom ndio you regain control ya system zako za biz. Some scammers can call your customers wawashow walipie good ama services kwa a different channel of payment.  This harms your business and damages trust ya clients wako. 

How to Avoid Hacking Activities

Some of the way to avoid this includes: 

• Implement Strong Cybersecurity Measures: Make sure biz yako iko protected na software against malware na uke na encryption.  

• Update Your Softwares: Make sure you update your softwares kila wakati. 

• Use multi-factor Authentication to Protect Your Account: Ongezea verification processes kwa software zote za biz yako. 

BITCOIN SCAMS 

Siku hizi, kila mtu anataka kukua na digital assets. The cryptocurrency market imekua ikitamba kabisa and everyone wants to diversify their income. However, scammers wengi wamejaa kwa the digital assets space taking advantage ya msee watapata amezubaa ama hajachanuka. Wanaeza kupromise a high return in a short time. They also could ask you to transfer bitcoins to their accounts then wanapotea and you lose your bitcoins. 

How to Avoid Bitcoin Scams

You can be cautious by: 

• Avoid deals that look “too good to be true” 

• Tumia reputable and verified cryptocurrency exchange. 

• Usiwai share personal information ya accounts zako. 

• Research watu na platforms za trading before ufanye transaction yeyote. 

In Kenya, some of the legit trading domains include: 

• Binance 

• Paxful 

• Yellow card 

• eToro 

Hizi ni amongst platform legit za kuTrade bitcoins. 

FOREX SCAMS 

Forex scams zimekua one of the most common scams online. Most scammers wanakuPromise high returns na easy profits. Wengine wanaeza kuomba log in za account yako ndio watrade on your behalf. There is also other scammers who will tell you watakuuzia bot ya kukufanyia trading ndio upate profits. Some will try kukushow vile wanaeza kufunza trading ndio uwalipe pesa ya tuition. Wengi hukam hadi na testimonials za uongo. Ni fiti kukaa rada. 

How to Avoid Forex Scams

Some ways to avoid forex scams include: 

• Research about a broker before trading with them. All legit brokers are regulated by Capital Markets Authority na international bodies kama CySEC.  

• Be weary of guaranteed profits or high-pressure sales tactics. 

• Use regulated forex brokers. 

• Seek independent advice before making a huge investment. 

FAKE CUSTOMER SCAMS 

Kwenye pilkapilka za kutoka block unaeza patana na customers wezi. Most of them come to your business and pretend to buy your services ama goods. They then give you a fake message kuonyesha wamelipa. Wengine wanaeza kukulipa na accounts za watu wengine more so card payments. Halafu wewe kama msee wa biashara utafanya delivery bila kujua card payment imefanywa ni ya card ya kuibwa.  

How to Spot and Avoid a Fake Customer Scams

• Verify large,rushed or any suspicious orders. Usually high orders that are not regularly made ni suspicious. 

• Suspicious ways of payment zinafaa zifanye ukajiulize maswali. Ensure customers wamelipa before wapate goods ama services.  

• Overpayment kutoka kwa customers pia ni red flag. Make sure umefanya research kabla hio biz iivane. Most scammers huiba cards za watu halafu wanalipa nazo goods na services. They overpay to soothe business owners into overlooking the stealing crime.  

MOBILE MONEY AND BANK SCAMS 

Scammers wa mobile money hukuja na tactics mpya kila siku. The most common currently ni ya kudanganya customers kutuma pesa in wrong accounts. Scammer anaeza kupigia akwambie amelala njaa, or mtoto wako anataka pesa ya trip ama akuambie mzazi wako ni mgonjwa. If you are not cautious, unaeza tuma pesa sababu ya kupanick. Scammers wengine wanaeza kuomba information yako wakidai wanataka kuverify your account.   

How to Avoid Mobile Money and Bank Scams

• Usiwai share your personal details. Kama hauko sure, make sure you confirm the official number ya company inakupigia kwa website yao. 

• Staff wa bank ama tecommunication company yeyote haezi kuuliza private info kama pin, account details na ID number over call. Be aware. 

• Make sure umeweka bank cards zako mbali na wasee. Also, make sure you never share your account pins. 

Most scams happen online. Biz mob zinareport that physical theft siku hizi imepungua kabisa! Watu wengi pia have confessed to losing money online.  

HOW DO YOU KNOW A WEBSITE IS LEGIT? 

1. Check the URL:  Authentic websites use secure connections, so the URL should start with https://, and there should be a padlock icon next to it. Be cautious of URLs with misspelled domain names or extra characters (e.g., "ammazon.com" instead of "amazon.com"). 

2. Look for Contact Information: Authentic websites usually provide clear contact information, including physical addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. If the website lacks these details or the contact information seems suspicious, be cautious. 

3. Check for Trust Seals: Some legitimate websites display trust seals. Clicking on these seals should redirect you to a verification page. Be wary of websites that display fake or outdated seals. 

4. Read the Privacy Policy: Genuine websites provide detailed privacy policies explaining how they collect and use your data. If a website lacks a privacy policy or if it seems overly vague or poorly written, it could be fraudulent. 

5. Check for Reviews and Social Media Presence: Look for reviews of the website on trusted platforms and check their social media profiles. Authentic businesses typically have a legitimate social media presence with customer interactions. Be cautious if there are no reviews or the website has bad feedback. 

6. Avoid Pop-up Ads and Suspicious Links: Fake websites often use aggressive pop-up ads, spammy banners, and random redirects. If a website bombards you with pop-ups or redirects you to irrelevant pages, it may be a scam. 

7. Test for Secure Payment Options: When making purchases, always ensure the website uses secure payment methods. Avoid sites that don’t use trusted payment gateways or ask for personal details like your PIN or banking information directly. 

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO 

Protect your business now! Usingoje biashara yako ama wewe mwenyewe uscammiwe. Kupiga hustle hukua kujituma na si poa msee kukutoka bidii yako. Kaa rada na trends zozote mpya za scammers wanatumia kuibia wasee.