In a world of smooth talkers and fake titles, discernment is your best defense.
Iâve bought, sold (online), and learned the hard way.
But this latest episode felt like one for a screenwriter. With equal parts drama, suspense and the kind of lesson you wish someone else would learn first.
Property Agent, Kim Brought a âBuyerâ
The buyer toured the property like a man who had memorized the land map in his dreams. Nodding knowingly at every turn.
Then, as if on cue, he settled at a nearby kibandaski. Negotiating like someone who had built an empire over tea and chapati.
As it turned out, he wasnât the buyer himself. Merely the messenger for a phantom client. Or so, the story went. I held my popcorns. Ready for Act Two of the unfolding play.
His markup was Ksh.3M đŽ
He introduced Himself as Dr. Ochom
Based in Meru and serving two government clinics.
Before that, he worked at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Nairobi. His hook? He ran a WhatsApp group for 1,000+ Kenyans in the Diaspora. Explaining that they had strict code of ethics.
Only cash-ready buyers, with an ‘open budget’ engaged him.
He does the groundwork. They fly in, view, and sign the deal
It was a neat story. Too neat.Two days later the cast changed.
Enter Wanjiru, a ‘UN staffer from the U.S.’ đşđ¸
Initially, Dr. Ochomâs deep-pocketed buyer was a Kenyan living large in South Sudan đ¸đ¸. Come round two, the story evolved. Now it was the buyerâs sister jetting in to seal the deal. How sweet?
According to the script, she was based in âthe Yuesâ đşđ¸.
Fresh off a flight the day before. Juggling two noble missions: flying her ailing mother to India, for stage 4 cancer treatment and, somehow, buying my property in between.
She was relocating back home with her husband and child. A seasoned U.N. professional who had hopped countries like conference rooms. For the past seven years, sheâd âservedâ or perhaps slaved in the so-called land of the free.
đ¸ Lights, Camera, Action!
She loved the property. And wanted a valuer before signing. The drama had momentum.
Then came the twist. The valuerâs day arrived and the good doctor called. Asking for Ksh. 2K. âFuel top-upâ, for his third trip from Meru.
My chest tightened.
Then 2017 flashed before my eyes. Different con. Different car. Same Maasai cows. A fake accident. A real loss. And a painful reminder that experience isnât always the best teacher.
đ¨Con Woman Alert â Kaa Chonjo!
In 2017, I fell victim to a slick scam that still makes me shake my head. A woman posed as a car buyer. With an exaggerated English accent, she reached out claiming interest in my Honda Fit.
She asked for photos via WhatsApp.
Later, she claimed to have had an accident at Suswa on her way coming to pick-n-buy my car. The villains? Maasai cows. Within minutes, frantic phone calls began. Trembling voice. Desperate pleas. Plus a request for cash âbefore they burn the car.â
Straight out of Scam & Furious.
In her masterclass of trickery, she even put me on the phone with the âMaasai herdersâ. Apparently to plead-cum-mediate that they donât set ablaze her car. And me? I swallowed the whole bait, hook, line, and sinker.
It was a well-crafted trap. I learned my lesson the hard way.
Scammers Thrive on Urgency and Emotion
Iâd been burned before. This time I watched the screenplay play out. Listened to the lines I knew by heart. And let the curtain fall on their act.
If a contact is marked as spam on Truecaller. Or starts spinning dramatic tales. Thatâs your cue to hang up. Kaa chonjo. Not everyone calling to buy means well.
Fast forward to 2025. Here is Dr. Ochom. Same script, new stage. The buyer sounded eager. The story airtight. The pressure subtle, but firm. DĂŠjĂ vu with better costumes.
Seemingly they were auditioning for Property Hunters: The Scam Edition đ¤Ł. I politely declined the fuel money request. Just like that, the empire crumbled. Wanjiru exited the play. She was a support actor.C
đ Credit: itâs my wife, who first smelled the rot rat đ
Within hours, Kim and Dr. Ochom were at each otherâs throats. Hurling insults over text as their grand plot unraveled. I sat back, smiled, and let the curtain fall.
Half amused, half amazed.
The Scripture that Steadied Me
There is wisdom in the bible. Proverbs read like a modern warning label. It kept me calm:
âThe prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.â Prov 22:3
Words for the hustlers and the hustled. Be prudent, not proud. Cautious, not cynical.
How the Con Worked (The Screenplay) đ¤ˇââď¸
They built credibility with: A convincing title (Doctor). A plausible work history (Meru clinics, Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital). A diaspora angle (a paying client overseas).
Besides, a simple ask when the moment came (a tiny cash âadvanceâ). Small asks are the conâs smoke machine. They hide the wiring.
They invested in storytelling and props. The V8 (or was it a TX). The UN worker. And an âopen budgetâ client. Because, stories sell faster than facts.
Practical Takeaways
How to spot and stop the con
Protecting yourself is less about paranoia. It’s more about procedure. Hereâs what I recommend:
- Verify identity: Ask for IDs and official contacts. Meet in person (or in neutral public spaces)
- Avoid lone viewings where possible. Have someone with you.
- Legit buyers donât ask for fuel money or âtop-ups.â
- Trust your memory of past lessons. If a story looks like one youâve heard before, it probably is.
⨠Final Thoughts: Seller, Shine Your Eyes!
The con game has evolved.
Todayâs scammers donât wear rags. They wear confidence. Drive V8s. And speak Queenâs English with a hint of âDiaspora accent.â Their scripts? Pure Nollywood.
Their talent is narrative. Their goal is to shorten your attention and lengthen their pockets.
But hereâs the truth. Discernment is the new security system. If a deal feels too smooth, pause. Ask questions. Verify. Pray.
Even Jacob was outwitted by Uncle Laban once. Yet, he had divine favor on speed dial. The Bible says in Proverbs 12:19:
âTruthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.â
So, while âDr. Ochomâ and his crew may stage their plays in shiny rides and fluent English. Remember, truth doesnât need acting classes.
Stay alert, dear seller. In this economy, the only thing moving faster than land prices are conmen with creativity.
đ Phewks, I walked away this time. Watching their cards fall, where they may. I learned again that prudence is the quiet guardian of commerce.
If this Rang any Bells…
If youâve had a close shave with a smooth-talking buyer. Please share your story below. We learn faster together.
đŁ #SellerBeware #TrueStory #ConAlert #DiasporaDeals #TrustButVerify #KaaChonjo #LessonsFromTheStreet #DiscernmentIsWisdom
Joseph Ngaara is inspired by people’s life experiences. Do you have an intriguing life story and need to share your triumph or tragedy? Email: j.mungai@hotmail.co.uk
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