The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has issued a warning after a fake vehicle auction notice purporting to offer cars at throwaway prices in Nairobi circulated widely on social media amid intensifying online scams.
In a notice on Saturday, May 2, the Police Commission dismissed the viral notice as fraudulent, clarifying that it had neither advertised nor authorized any public auction.
The Commission warned that the poster is part of a broader surge in online scams where criminals impersonate government agencies to exploit public trust.
The fake notice claimed that a “sale by public auction” is scheduled to take place in Nairobi, listing popular vehicles such as Toyota Vitz, Mazda Demio, Toyota Corolla Axio, Nissan X-Trail, Subaru Forester, and Toyota Prado at unusually low prices, some starting from as little as KSh250,000.
To make the scheme appear legitimate, fraudsters used the Commission’s name, branding, and formatting, a tactic increasingly common in online scams.
The notice then directed interested individuals to register via WhatsApp using a provided phone number, submit copies of identification documents, and pay a “refundable” deposit to secure participation.
NPSC cautioned that it does not conduct sales through informal channels such as WhatsApp or request upfront payments and urged the public to verify all information on their platforms.
The Commission stressed that such tactics are a hallmark of online scams, which often rely on urgency and attractive offers to trap victims.
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Pattern of Growing Online Scams
The incident adds to a growing list of online scams targeting Kenyans, as fraudsters become increasingly calculated in how they design fake communications.
Scammers now closely mimic government documents, complete with logos, reference numbers, and formal language, making it harder to distinguish genuine notices from them.
On April 30, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) warned the public about fake recruitment messages linked to the Rironi–Gilgil (A8) and Rironi–Mai Mahiu–Naivasha (A8 South) road projects.
The authority said fraudsters have been circulating fake job advertisements and SMS messages claiming to offer employment opportunities under the multi-billion-dollar road projects.
KeNHA noted that the messages instruct applicants to submit personal documents via unofficial email addresses and, in some cases, to pay application, medical processing, document verification, or recruitment facilitation fees via M-Pesa.
KeNHA dismissed the claims, stating that the project does not charge any fees at any stage of recruitment, whether for applications, shortlisting, interviews, medical checks, or employment processing.
The authority further cautioned members of the public against sending money to individuals purporting to represent KeNHA, contractors such as CRBC, or institutions like NSSF in connection with the project
KeNHA emphasized that all legitimate recruitment communications related to the project will be shared only through authorized, verifiable official platforms.
Any deviation from this, the authority noted, should be treated as suspicious.
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Ogamba Flags Statement Linked to Delayed Payments for National Examiners
Julius Ogamba, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, also flagged another case of misinformation linked to online scams on April 23, dismissing a viral statement falsely claiming delays in payments to national examination professionals due to a lack of funds.
“The document currently circulating is fake. I urge the public to treat it with the contempt it deserves,” he said.
The forged statement, bearing the branding of the Ministry of Education, alleged that payments would be postponed to the next financial year due to budget constraints, claims the ministry firmly rejected.
The authorities have warned that online scams are becoming more frequent and increasingly convincing, often combining fake branding, urgent messaging, and promises of financial gain to lure victims.
