My online partner wants to send me dollars, gold or a parcel, but I must pay clearance first. Is it a scam?
Yes, this is a well-known scam. The parcel doesn't exist; the "courier" or "customs officer" who calls you is part of the same scam, and the fees will keep coming.
After weeks of romance, the person sends a parcel with money or valuables. Then you get a call or email from a courier company or someone claiming to be from customs: the parcel is held and you must pay by M-Pesa to release it.
Sending cash or gold in a parcel is not how people move money, and real customs charges are not paid to a personal M-Pesa number.
What to do
- Don't pay any clearance, insurance or anti-money laundering fee.
- Look up the courier company yourself and call it on its official number.
- Don't share your ID or bank details with the "courier".
- Check the courier's number and email with Veritaza.
- If you already paid, call Safaricom or your bank straight away.
Frequently asked questions
- The courier has a website with tracking. Is it real?
- Fake courier websites with tracking pages are cheap to make. If the company isn't one you can find independently, treat it as fake.
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.
Check a person