News and Analysis
December 19, 2025
2025 was a difficult year for some Kenyans, not just because of economic pressure, but because scammers evolved faster than public awareness.
Fraud in 2025 was no longer crude or obvious. It was polished, personalised, and psychologically precise. Kenyans lost money through fake jobs, cryptocurrency platforms, pension theft, and online shopping scams. At the same time, similar schemes were unfolding globally, targeting millions across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America.
Here’s a closer look at the major scams that defined 2025 — starting at home, then zooming out to the global stage.
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With the growing influence of TikTok as an information and opportunity platform, scammers used it as a recruitment tool.
Fraudsters posing as overseas job agencies advertised employment opportunities in Europe. Their pages looked legitimate, complete with office videos, visa timelines, and success stories.
Victims were given fake job offer letters, forged visa approvals, and were invited to Zoom interviews conducted by individuals posing as HR managers. Some agencies even operated physical offices for credibility.
To “process” the jobs, victims were asked to pay for visas, medical tests, insurance, and placement fees. Many paid using savings, loans, or by selling livestock. Victims lost between Ksh100,000 and Ksh545,000 before the agencies disappeared completely.
Cryptocurrency fraud remained one of the most financially devastating scams of the year.
CBEX marketed itself as an AI-powered trading platform promising guaranteed returns. Early investors received payouts, which encouraged them to reinvest and recruit others.
The platform displayed fake US registration documents, certificates, and sophisticated dashboards showing supposed trading activity. In reality, investor funds were transferred immediately into private wallets controlled by scammers.
When withdrawals were halted and the platform collapsed, investors across Kenya and Nigeria were among those who lost a combined Ksh103 billion globally.
In December 2025, Kenyans who had invested in the cryptocurrency and forex trading platform Optcoin were left counting heavy losses after the platform suddenly collapsed, locking users out of their accounts and blocking withdrawals without any official communication. Investors later found themselves redirected to a new platform demanding a registration fee of at least Ksh24,000 to allegedly recover their funds, deepening fears that the scheme was fraudulent. Many victims said they had invested substantial amounts—some over Ksh200,000—after being introduced to Optcoin through trusted networks, including church leaders.
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Retirees were also prime targets in 2025. Fraudsters gained access to pension payment schedules and monitored accounts closely. In some cases, funds were withdrawn immediately after being deposited.
A retired teacher lost Ksh2.4 million within hours of receiving a lump sum pension payout. In other cases, retirees were followed after withdrawing money from banks and robbed.
The scale and precision of the fraud triggered a Senate investigation, amid concerns of possible insider collusion within financial institutions.
Fake online retail shops flooded social media, particularly TikTok.
Scammers cloned the branding of well-known retail outlets, offering household electronics at unusually low prices with flexible payment plans. The pages copied logos, customer reviews, and even delivery policies.
Victims paid deposits or full amounts, only for the sellers to disappear. Some also unknowingly surrendered personal data, exposing them to further fraud.
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Employees were targeted through phishing emails disguised as HR updates. The emails were personalised, referenced company policies, and included attachments or QR codes supposedly linking to internal documents.
Employees who scanned the codes or clicked links unknowingly shared login credentials, exposing payroll systems and personal data.
Globally, scammers heavily exploited public fascination with artificial intelligence. Fake investment platforms promised AI-driven trading systems that removed human error and guaranteed consistent profits. Victims were shown simulated dashboards, performance charts, and technical jargon designed to discourage scrutiny.
Early withdrawals were allowed to build trust. Once confidence was established, investors were encouraged to deposit larger amounts. Behind the scenes, no trading occurred. Funds were redirected to offshore wallets and quickly laundered. When platforms collapsed, victims were left with nothing.
This scam was widely reported in the US, Europe, and parts of Asia, costing investors billions of dollars.
Advances in deepfake technology enabled scammers to impersonate CEOs, government officials, and celebrities. Victims received videos or voice messages appearing to show trusted public figures endorsing investmentst, asking for urgent payments, or approving financial decisions.
In corporate settings, employees were tricked into transferring large sums after receiving deepfake voice instructions from “senior executives.” For example, in Singapore, a finance officer of a multinational firm transferred Ksh64 million (USD500,000) to an account sent by fraudsters after receiving a deep fake video of the CEO.
Read Also: Too Good to be True? Signs It’s a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme, Scam
Another global trend involved free trials for software, fitness programs, and productivity tools. Users were asked to provide card details for verification, only to be charged recurring fees that were difficult to cancel. Terms were hidden in fine print, and customer support was nonexistent. Millions lost small amounts monthly, but the cumulative losses were massive.
Scams in 2025 were not about intelligence — they were about psychology. They exploited urgency, authority, trust, hope, and fear. The most dangerous scams looked professional, familiar, and comforting.
The strongest defence is not paranoia, but deliberate verification, patience, and awareness.
Understanding how scams work is the first step toward protecting your money — and your peace of mind.
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