My online match asked me to send fare so they can come and visit. Is it a scam?
Very often, yes. Asking you to send fare before you have ever met is a classic way to get small amounts again and again. Someone who really wants to meet you can find their own way to a first date in a public place.
It starts small: bus fare, a matatu to town, a ticket from another county or another country. Once you send it, something else comes up – a fine, a lost phone, a sick relative – and the amounts grow.
Some people who ask for fare are not professional scammers, just people who see dating as a way to get money. Either way, paying before meeting rarely ends well.
What to do
- Don't send fare to someone you haven't met.
- Suggest meeting in a public place they can reach on their own.
- Ask for a short video call first.
- If the person gets angry or guilt-trips you, take that as your answer.
- Check the photos and number before you agree to meet.
Frequently asked questions
- It's only a few hundred shillings. Why does it matter?
- Because it's a test. A person who gets a small amount easily usually comes back with a bigger story.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you're chatting to? Veritaza checks the photos, the messages, the number, the email address, the name and the ID document, for KSh 300.
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