The Kenya Power and Lighting Company has exposed seven tricks conmen are using in attempts to defraud unsuspecting Kenyans.
In a statement on Friday, November 24, the utility company listed cases of fraudsters impersonating its staff and later asking customers to pay them directly as among the common tricks.
According to the notice, the fraudsters lure customers to pay them directly for products including meters, poles, cables and transformers and hence losing money.
In addition, the company warned against persons claiming to sell or supply Kenya Power materials to customers for illegal lines.
Also in the list was a warning about persons sharing fake lease agreements to members of the public claiming that the company plans to construct substations or install transformers on private land.
As per the notice, the fraudsters then ask the unsuspecting people to pay some money to facilitate the process of leasing.
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Fraudsters forcing customers to pay for free services
Furthermore, KPLC mentioned cases where customers are forced to pay for access-free services.
The firm stated that the unidentified fraudsters have been forcing customers to pay for services such as new connections, unresolved complaints, billing issues, fixing faulty meters, and replacing transformer fuses.
Such services, Kenya Power, noted, are free and Kenyans should not be cajoled into paying staff members.
Additionally, the power distributor cautioned Kenyans against people who make phone calls to customers threatening to disconnect unless certain money is sent to them.
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Also in the list was a warning to Kenyans especially learners about impersonators purporting to have the capacity to offer jobs or attachment.
How to verify identity of Kenya Power staff
The impersonators, Kenya Power states, ask for a bribe as a condition of securing the attachment slots.
In the notice, Kenya Power asked members of the public to use its staff verification system through the USSD code *977# and choose the “Jua for Sure option”.
Alternatively, customers can request for staff ID cards from such individuals claiming to be from the company.
For those seeking to pay for various services offered by the company, the notice advised them to pay only using paybill numbers 888899 for new connections, 88888 for bills, and 888880 for tokens.
“Do not make any payment to any individual,” Kenya Power emphasized in the statement.
