The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has issued an urgent warning to the public about fraudsters impersonating the organization on WhatsApp in elaborate extortion schemes.
In a notice on Monday, November 10, the forestry agency alerted Kenyans to beware of scammers approaching individuals on the messaging platform using numbers that display a profile photo of the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Mr. Alex Lemankoko.
According to KFS, the fraudsters then proceed to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.
The agency emphasized that the public is advised to report any suspicious communication to the nearest police station or KFS office for further investigation.
“Nobody should pay for any KFS service or product other than through the legally approved e-citizen platform,” the statement read.
The warning comes complete with a screenshot showing one of the fraudulent WhatsApp numbers (+254 116 *96348) marked with a visible “FAKE!”.
This comes a few days after Kenya Railways Corporation issued a similar alert regarding fraudulent TikTok accounts posing as official booking services for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
On Thursday, November 6, the rail transport operator cautioned the public against scammers who had created fake social media pages claiming to offer SGR ticket booking services, with some groups attracting thousands of members.
“Please note that these pages are managed by fraudsters who are out to con unsuspecting members of the public. Kenya Railways does not have an official TikTok account, and any accounts claiming to represent us on that platform are fake,” the statement read.
The scammers have been exploiting the popularity of the SGR service, particularly targeting travelers unfamiliar with the official booking channels.
Authorities are urging citizens to remain vigilant and verify any communication claiming to be from government agencies, particularly those requesting payments or personal information through unofficial channels.
