A routine phone call from Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, has sparked fresh concern over the growing number of fraudsters targeting city residents.
Mosiria revealed that while following up with a Nairobi resident over unpaid land rates, the woman initially believed he was a scammer attempting to extort money from her.
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According to Mosiria, the incident highlights just how widespread fraud and impersonation schemes have become, with many Nairobi residents now suspicious of unexpected calls requesting payments.
"Today, I called a Nairobi County resident to remind her that her land rates were long overdue. She was surprised and initially thought I was a fraudster trying to extort money from her under false pretences." Mosiria wrote.
The county official shared the experience on his social media pages, saying it demonstrated the need for residents to remain cautious while also understanding the proper channels for making county payments.
Rise in Fraud Cases
Mosiria noted that scammers continue to exploit unsuspecting residents by pretending to be county officials and demanding money through unofficial channels.
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He warned Nairobi residents never to send money simply because they receive a phone call requesting payment.
"This clearly shows that the number of scammers and extortionists targeting innocent Nairobi residents has increased." Mosiria said.
Geoffrey_Mosiria // Instagram
Instead, he urged residents to verify all payment requests and use only official county payment systems.
Use Official Payment Channels
Mosiria reminded residents that Nairobi City County does not require payments to be made directly to individuals.
He advised those paying land rates or accessing any county service to make payments only through the county's official revenue account or authorised payment channels available at Customer Care Service Centres.
"For all Nairobi City County services, please do not make cash payments to individuals. Instead, make all payments directly to the official County revenue account or through the approved payment channels provided at our Customer Care Service Centres." Mosiria stated.
Geoffrey_Mosiria // Instagram
He added that following the correct procedures can help protect residents from financial loss and identity fraud.
Public Urged to Stay Vigilant
Mosiria concluded by urging Nairobi residents to remain alert as fraudsters become increasingly sophisticated in their methods.
"Let us all remain alert and protect ourselves from fraudsters," he said.
His warning comes at a time when cases of phone scams, fake payment requests and impersonation of government officials continue to be reported across the country.
According to the Communications Authority of Kenya, mobile and online fraud remain among the most common cyber threats affecting Kenyans, with authorities consistently urging the public to verify payment requests and avoid sending money through unofficial channels.
Similarly, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has repeatedly cautioned members of the public against fraudsters posing as government officers or customer service representatives to steal money and personal information.
