Content creator Maureen Waititu has shared a harrowing experience with her followers, revealing how she was scammed by someone pretending to be from Kenya Power. In an emotional Instagram Story, Maureen opened up about the ordeal, hoping her story would serve as a warning to others.
Maureen had initially reported a power outage on social media after a vehicle knocked down an electric pole at the Argwings Kodhek/Ole Dume junction. Her tweet, tagging Kenya Power’s official account, read: “@KenyaPower a vehicle knocked down an electric pole at the Argwings Kodhek/Ole Dume junction. Power has been off for about 2 and a half hours. Thanks.” The tweet seemed like a normal public service update until she received an unexpected response.
An account claiming to represent Kenya Power reached out, acknowledging the issue and reassuring her that the power outage was being attended to. Despite Maureen’s concerns over the authenticity of the account, she had followed it for years and had even received help in the past. Her suspicions were put to rest, or so she thought, when she received a phone call shortly after from someone claiming to be a Kenya Power representative.
The caller knew her Kenya Power account details and insisted that she send money to “verify” her account. Maureen initially thought the request was legitimate due to the caller’s knowledge of her personal details, including her phone number and account information. In her bid to resolve the issue, she transferred KSh 1,000, believing the process to be a necessary step for verification. However, the situation soon spiraled out of control.
The scammer continued to convince Maureen that the transaction was part of the verification process. He even requested a screenshot of the transaction and further questioned her choice of payment method. Unknowingly, Maureen entered a series of codes that eventually led her to send all the money in her M-Pesa account KSh 8,888.
It wasn’t until the confirmation came through and the name “Ruto” appeared in the transaction details that Maureen realized she had been scammed. The scammer, attempting to continue his deceit, suggested she take out a Fuliza loan, but Maureen finally caught on and refused.
In a moment of vulnerability, Maureen shared her experience with her followers. “I was so embarrassed I wanted to take this to my grave,” she admitted, “but I decided to share it to warn others.” She expressed frustration with Kenya Power and Safaricom, questioning how scammers gained access to customer information and why reversing such transactions isn’t easier.
Maureen’s advice to her followers is clear: “Be careful out there. That’s how my Wednesday afternoon went don’t let it happen to you.”
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the sophistication of scams targeting unsuspecting individuals. Maureen’s decision to share her story is a brave one, aiming to raise awareness and help others avoid falling victim to similar schemes.
