KAA RADA

How I Lost KSh50,000 in Minutes 😭💔

Leo saa kumi na nusu hivi, nilikuwa kazini kama kawaida, nikijaribu kufanya biashara yangu. Business imekuwa down siku hizi, so every customer that comes in means a lot to me. I was just praying that leo ningepata sales nzuri kidogo. 😔

Suddenly, a customer came in and asked for a suit. I showed him what I had and helped him choose. Everything seemed normal. Hakuna kitu niliona suspicious.

After choosing the suit, we reached the payment stage. The customer told me, “Angalia, nimetuma using Airtel Money.”

Nikaangalia simu yangu, but sikuona confirmation yoyote. Nikamwambia sijapata pesa.

Kidogo akaniambia simu yake ya mkopa ilikuwa imezimwa and he needed to complete the transaction. Akaniuliza kama ningemsaidia kulipa kwanza, then angeendelea na payment.

Honestly, hapo ndio nilifanya mistake ambayo sitaisahau. 😭

Nilijaribu kumsaidia kulipa mara mbili. Both times, transaction ilikataa na ikaonyesha “Incorrect account number.”

Nilimwambia imekataa.

The customer then told me, “Si uko na Safaricom line? Toa line yako kwa simu yako, tuweke kwa hii simu yangu tujaribu nayo.”

Guys, sijui akili yangu ilikuwa wapi at that moment. 😭 My mind was completely confused and I just wanted us to finish the transaction and continue with business.

Nikakubali.

Nilitoa line yangu ya Safaricom kwa simu yangu na nikampatia. Akaweka kwa simu yake. Then akaanza process ya payment.

After a few minutes, akanirudishia line yangu. Nikaiweka tena kwa simu yangu, and everything seemed normal.

Akanishow, “Sasa imefunguka. Tumalizie transaction.”

Baadaye alinitumia pesa kupitia Airtel Money, so I thought everything was okay. Niliona kama shida yote ilikuwa imeisha.

The customer left.

But immediately after ameenda, something inside me started feeling uncomfortable. 😟 I started thinking about everything that had just happened.

Nikajiuliza, “Why did he insist on using my Safaricom line? Why did he need my line in the first place?”

I became suspicious.

So I quickly moved my money from M-PESA to my Pochi, thinking at least I had protected it. I thought I was safe.

Guys… I was wrong. 😭💔

About 20 minutes later, I checked again and discovered that the customer had managed to move money from my Pochi back to M-PESA.

Then the money was withdrawn through an agent.

By the time I realized what had happened, KSh 50,000 was gone.

I just stood there staring at my phone. 😭😭

KSh 50,000!!

Money that I had worked for. Money that I needed for my business. Money that, with the way biashara iko down, was not easy to replace.

The worst part is that I keep replaying the whole thing in my head.

I keep asking myself, “Why did I agree to give him my line?”

Maybe I was tired. Maybe I was distracted. Maybe I trusted him because he looked like a normal customer. But the truth is, scammers know exactly how to make you panic and act without thinking.

And that is exactly what happened to me today.

I am sharing this because maybe someone else can learn from my mistake. Please, never give your SIM card to a stranger or allow someone to use your mobile-money account to complete their transaction.

Even if they look genuine.

Even if they are in a hurry.

Even if they promise they will send you the money immediately.

Stop. Think. Verify everything first.

For me, today was not just a loss of KSh 50,000. It was a painful lesson. 💔

I don't know whether I will recover the money, but I am going to report the transaction and try everything possible.

And honestly, I hope this story saves someone else from experiencing what I experienced today.

Guys, be careful out here. Not every customer who walks into your business comes with good intentions. 😭💔