I read the story in the picture, on facebook and could not help sympathizing with that guy who just lost 720k to conmen in a car transaction deal. You can only imagine the pain that he might have saved that amount over several years (not everyone is lucky to have access to easy cash), and maybe topped up with a loan. I am not an expert, but I would like to assist fellow Ktalkers with several ways of minimizing the chances of being victimized by cons, especially in land deals and vehicles. A con game largely depends on identity theft or false identity. In 99% of the cases, the real owner of the car/land will hardly con you because his/her name is all over the transaction hence easily traceable by cops. The real examination is therefore to confirm that the seller is actually who he/she purports to be. This are the steps:
- Insist that the seller brings the original ID card. This measure is not sufficient on its own. However, it forms a basis on which additional verification measures can be conducted. We all know that fake IDs are a reality in River Road.
- Once the seller shows up with the ID, ask for his ATM card on the spot. The names from his ATM card should be the same as those on the ID card. This step eliminates 99% of cons, because it is very difficult to fool a banking system. To get an ATM card, a bank needs your fingerprints, close-up picture, signature, biometric fingerprinting among other security measures which make it almost impossible to have a fake bank account. By asking for an ATM card unexpectedly, you have used the banks security systems for personal gain. This is the litmus test of one’s identity.
- Just to be sure, proceed to ask for the MPESA number so that you can try sending Ksh 50 just to verify the names further. Once again, you will have used Safaricoms security systems to verify his/her identity. Avoid anyone without a safaricom number. Most cons dont use their safaricom line.
- If a copy of the KRA Pin has been provided, you can key in the pin number to see if the name presented on the website is actually the same as that on the ID card. I dont know whether the KRA portal works like that currently, but a while back, you could tell the names of a person just by their KRA Pin.
There may be other better ways. I am not an expert. However, I believe those are some street smart ways of verifying a persons identity in a major transaction. In most cases, steps 1,2and 3 will suffice (when combined). After verifying the identity, ensure the following:-
- The transaction should take place in a banking hall where there is ample security. Insist on paying directly to the sellers account and retain the receipt as proof of payment. In cases where you are buying (not selling), banks protect you from getting paid with fake cash because criminals cannot risk depositing fake cash.
2, In matters of land, all the above verification procedures may fail to work in one unique case, where an owner owns plots A and B…and shows you plot A while selling plot B on paper. In such a case, any identity verification method will fail, because both plots are owned by the same person. The only way is to verify from neighbors that the block number and plot number of the plot being shown is the same as that on the title deed.
NB: This is just a tip of the iceberg. Pamoja tuangamize wizi.