In Nakuru, two university students faced harsh punishment after attempting to defraud a local shopkeeper using fake M-PESA messages.
The incident reportedly occurred when the students tried to pay a Ksh 1,000 bill at the shop by sending a fraudulent M-PESA transaction confirmation.
The shopkeeper, however, quickly identified the scam and raised the alarm.
This led to the students being physically assaulted by an angry crowd, which left them injured, a situation described as being “beaten like a burukenge” (a local term for being severely beaten).
The two students were eventually rescued and taken to the authorities for further action.
M-PESA fraud has become a growing concern in Kenya, with numerous incidents of fake transaction messages used to swindle businesses. Fraudsters often generate fake SMS confirmations to deceive shopkeepers or service providers into believing a payment has been made.
In some cases, they even modify messages to make them look legitimate. Despite efforts to curb such fraud, many shopkeepers remain vigilant, leading to incidents like the one in Nakuru, where frustrated locals took justice into their own hands.
This event highlights the increasing need for more public awareness and stronger legal measures against mobile money fraud.
Such scams not only affect businesses but also place individuals at risk of mob justice when caught.
Safaricom, the company behind M-PESA, continues to encourage people to verify transactions through official channels before accepting payments.
