My online partner says they sent me a gift from abroad and I must pay to release it. Is it a scam?
Yes, this is a well-known scam. The gift does not exist. After you pay the first fee, a "customs officer" or "courier" will ask for more: tax, insurance, a clearing certificate.
The person says they sent you jewellery, a phone or cash. Then someone calls or messages from a "courier company" or "the airport" and asks for payment by mobile money. Real customs charges are paid through official channels, never to a private M-Pesa number.
What to do
- Do not pay any fee to release a parcel you did not order.
- Look up the courier company yourself and call their official number.
- Do not send a copy of your ID to the "courier".
- Stop sending money, and report the profile and the numbers.
Frequently asked questions
- They sent me a tracking number. Does that prove it?
- No. Scammers make fake tracking websites that look real.
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 TSh 5,000.
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