For much of my professional life as a journalist and personally as a curious observer, I have been intrigued by the psychology of scams: how even intelligent, well-educated individuals can fall prey to elaborate hoaxes.
Globally, fraud has seen a worrying upward trend over the past decade. Advances in technology and increased digital access have opened more avenues for fraudsters to exploit, targeting unsuspecting individuals across socioeconomic backgrounds.
According to multiple international studies, including research published by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), fraudsters have become more innovative and adaptive, often leveraging social engineering and emotional manipulation to deceive victims.
A 2023 report from the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) highlighted a concerning rise in fraud-related crimes, emphasising a particularly deceptive scheme known as money muling.
In its most common form, victims are approached by individuals claiming they need help receiving money from a relative abroad. The victim is asked to use their bank account to facilitate the transaction, often under the pretence of doing a harmless favour.
However, international research from Cifas, a UK-based fraud prevention organisation, warns that such seemingly innocent involvement may be part of much more sinister activities. Their data links money laundering to the funding of serious criminal enterprises, including human trafficking, narcotics distribution, and even terrorism.
Money muling
In South Africa, the consequences are severe. Individuals found guilty of money muling can be blacklisted by SAFPS, restricting access to financial services for up to 10 years, a penalty that severely impacts economic mobility and personal freedom.
Kenya’s digital landscape, particularly the ubiquity of mobile money platforms like M-Pesa, creates both opportunities and vulnerabilities. While security protocols exist, the ease of peer-to-peer transactions could potentially make money-muling schemes more discreet and harder to detect. As financial criminologists often warn, “Where there’s convenience, there’s risk.”
One notable case that underscores the magnitude of fraud was the infamous 2019 gold scam in Kenya. Foreign investors were lured with promises of large-scale gold sales, only to discover the entire operation was a fraud. Investigations at the time hinted at potential political involvement, illustrating how high-level corruption can shield fraud networks from consequences.
Such scams are not just theoretical. Research published in the Journal of Economic Crime Management shows that fraud schemes often begin with a small ‘win’ that builds victim trust—a psychological hook that leads to larger and riskier investments. This aligns with a well-documented fraud model known as the “foot-in-the-door technique,” where initial compliance paves the way for deeper manipulation.
Real-life examples illustrate this disturbing pattern. For instance, between 2011 and 2013, a Kenyan political figure was reportedly duped by a con artist masquerading as a foreign investor. Starting with a modest investment that appeared to double quickly, the victim was gradually lured into investing millions, including mortgaging his home, before losing over Ksh76 million. Though individual names may vary, these scenarios align with documented case studies in fraud research.
Just as I was revisiting these patterns, a fresh example arrived via a media advisory from South Africa’s Ministry of Justice. It warned the public of a Facebook scam involving the impersonation of the minister. According to the ministry, the compromised account was being used to promote fraudulent projects and solicit money from the public, underlining how impersonation scams are becoming alarmingly common.
Cybersecurity analysts, including findings from McAfee’s 2024 Global Scam Report, have consistently flagged social media impersonation as one of the fastest-growing types of online fraud. The report notes that public figures, especially government officials, are increasingly being targeted to lend credibility to scams.
This immediately brought to mind the social media activity of Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Labour, Alfred Mutua, who has frequently posted about international job opportunities. While his intentions may be genuine, the possibility of account hijacking cannot be ruled out. Unfortunately, in Kenya’s political landscape, accountability is rare, and any irregularities are often deflected as political sabotage.
In the end, what becomes clear is that scams thrive not just on gullibility, but on silence, denial, and institutional failure to respond quickly. In an age where trust is a currency, losing it can be just as devastating as losing money.
