How to spot fake jobs in Kenya
Updated 16 October 2026 · Soma kwa Kiswahili
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Fake job adverts cost Kenyan job seekers money, time and hope. Most follow the same patterns.
Warning signs
- They ask for money. Registration, processing, interview, medical, training or uniform fees. Real employers do not charge you to apply or to start.
- A big company with a Gmail address. Large employers use their own email domain. Many genuine agencies use Gmail, so treat it as a reason to check, not proof of a scam.
- WhatsApp only. "Send your CV on WhatsApp" with no company name or office.
- Pay too good to be true. KES 150,000 for a no-experience job is a red flag.
- Pressure. "Only 3 slots left, pay today."
Before you go for an interview
Search the company name. Check it has a real office and a working phone number. Go to interviews in the daytime, at an office, and tell someone where you're going.
If you've been scammed
Report it to the DCI and to the platform where you saw the ad. Keep the M-Pesa message and screenshots.
On TumaCV, every job gets a safety check, and we never send your CV to an ad that asks for money. You can also check any ad for free.
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