Online Scams in Mombasa, Kenya
Fraudulent booking sites, phishing, fake reviews, and digital cons targeting travelers. Below are the online scams scams reported in Mombasa — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Arusha.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
1
Online Scams Scams
11
Total in Mombasa
How it works
Around Mombasa Moi Avenue, the Mackinnon Market area, and near the Mombasa train station on Haile Selassie Road, street vendors sell Safaricom and Airtel SIM cards pre-loaded with data bundles at prices well below official rates. The SIM either contains fake credit that disappears within hours, or it has been registered using stolen ID documents, leaving the buyer liable for fraudulent activity on that number. In some cases vendors load M-Pesa mobile money onto a SIM and remotely drain it after the sale, leaving the tourist with a worthless card. Kenya requires biometric registration for all SIMs, so unregistered cards purchased this way are also illegal.
See all scams in Mombasa
11 total warnings across all categories