SUNEKA BUSINESSWOMAN LOSES KSH 98,000 IN SOPHISTICATED M-PESA SCAM
Suneka businesswoman Mercy Kerubo was scammed KSh 98,000 in a sophisticated M-Pesa fraud in Kisii County. The suspect used small transactions to gain her trust before showing a fake edited confirmation message and walking away with the cash. He was captured on CCTV. Police investigations ongoing.
A businesswoman from Suneka in Bonchari Constituency, Kisii County, identified as Mercy Kerubo, is counting huge losses after being conned of KSh 98,000 in a well-planned M-Pesa scam.The incident occurred on Sunday, May 24th, at around 10:00 a.m., shortly after she opened her shop for business. A man entered the shop pretending to be a genuine customer. He first requested to withdraw KSh 800 via M-Pesa, a transaction Mercy completed without suspicion.
Moments later, the suspect claimed he had forgotten that he actually needed KSh 1,800 and requested an additional withdrawal. Mercy obliged and even suggested combining the amounts for convenience.
While the transaction was processing, the man cleverly built trust by behaving like a real customer. He browsed the shop, asked for a notebook and a pen, then requested sewing machine oil and sewing thread. He instructed Mercy to deduct the cost of these items from the money he had withdrawn. The name “Moses Omweri” appeared on the M-Pesa transaction details, further convincing her that the dealings were legitimate. After receiving the items and cash, the man left the shop.
Approximately 30 minutes later, he returned with a list of books and asked Mercy to prepare them for purchase. Before leaving again, he inquired whether she could handle a KSh 98,000 M-Pesa withdrawal. Mercy confirmed she could.
When the confirmation message delayed, the suspect quickly showed Mercy his phone, displaying what appeared to be a successful transaction message complete with a transaction code. Believing the message was genuine — especially given the common network delays — Mercy handed over the KSh 98,000 in cash.
It was only after her employee arrived shortly afterwards that Mercy realized she had been scammed. The suspect had cleverly edited the message on his phone to make it look authentic.
Mercy admitted that she normally calls the M-Pesa customer care line to confirm large transactions but failed to do so on this occasion. She revealed that it had taken her two years of hard work and sacrifice to save the money.
While many have sympathized with her, noting that such scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, others have blamed her for lowering her guard. The suspect, who was captured on CCTV footage, is yet to be arrested. The matter has been reported to the police, and investigations are ongoing.
Members of the public who recognize the man in the CCTV footage are urged to report to the nearest police station.
This incident serves as a reminder for business owners to remain extra vigilant, especially when handling large M-Pesa transactions.
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