Question 1

What is the "Dating App and Online Romance Robbery" scam in Nairobi?

Accepted Answer

Criminals create convincing dating app and social media profiles targeting tourists staying in Nairobi's hotel districts, particularly in Westlands and Upper Hill. After establishing contact, the scammer arranges to meet the tourist and either brings accomplices to rob them at the meeting point or leads the victim to an isolated location. Kenyan authorities and the UK Foreign Office report a specific pattern of LGBT+ travelers being lured through apps and then robbed or blackmailed. Avoid meeting anyone you have only contacted online during your trip without extensive prior communication and verification. If you do meet someone, choose a busy public venue and do not share your exact hotel name or room number with new contacts.

Question 2

What is the "Fake Kenya eTA Website Scam" scam in Nairobi?

Accepted Answer

Since Kenya replaced its visa system with the mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) on January 1, 2024, dozens of fraudulent websites have appeared that closely mimic the official government portal at etakenya.go.ke. These fake sites charge tourists processing fees of USD 30–150 for an eTA that may never arrive, or may arrive as an unofficial document that is rejected at immigration. The Kenyan government, crisis monitoring services, and multiple tour operators have publicly warned about this scam, which proliferates through paid search ads targeting tourists searching for the application form. Apply for your Kenya eTA only through the official government website: etakenya.go.ke. Bookmark this URL directly rather than searching for it each time. If you find a site through a search engine advertisement, verify the exact URL before entering any personal or payment details — the official site has a .go.ke government domain, not .com, .org, or any other extension.

Question 3

What is the "SIM Swap Fraud Targeting Tourists" scam in Nairobi?

Accepted Answer

Criminals obtain your phone number details — sometimes through a corrupted mobile agent, phishing, or information gathered from social media — and then fraudulently swap your SIM to a new card they control. Once they own your number, they intercept M-Pesa authentication codes, gain access to mobile banking apps, and drain accounts. Safaricom reported a 327% increase in SIM swap fraud investigations in 2025, with a mass case involving 123,000 fraudulently registered SIM cards siphoning Sh500 million. Tourists who register a local Kenyan SIM for the trip are particularly exposed if they share personal details carelessly. Activate SIM swap protection by dialling *100*100# on your Safaricom line to require in-person verification at a Safaricom shop before any swap can occur. Never share your national ID or passport number with anyone claiming to be a mobile agent outside an official shop. If your phone unexpectedly loses all signal, immediately call your carrier from another phone — a sudden loss of service is the primary warning sign.

Online Scams in Nairobi

Dating App and Online Romance Robbery

Fake Kenya eTA Website Scam

SIM Swap Fraud Targeting Tourists

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