Landlady ameoshwa: Businesswoman loses KSh 168m to property scammer

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- A 64-year-old Hong Kong retiree who owned residential, commercial and parking properties was contacted via WhatsApp by a fraudster posing as a prospective tenant

- The scammer befriended the landlady through Facebook before convincing her to invest in cryptocurrency, claiming it was the next major wealth opportunity

- Hong Kong police issued a public warning after the incident, urging residents to guard their crypto wallet details and beware of promises of high returns online

A 64-year-old retired landlady in Hong Kong has lost KSh 168 million (US$1.3 million) after a fraudster posed as a prospective tenant to gain her trust and drain her cryptocurrency holdings.

Hong Kong police disclosed the case on Friday August 14, explaining that the retiree, who owned a portfolio of residential, commercial and parking space properties, had posted a rental listing on Facebook in May.

A scammer subsequently reached out to her through WhatsApp, presenting themselves as an interested tenant.

How did the scam unfold?

Although no tenancy agreement was ever signed, the fraudster shifted tactics and cultivated a personal friendship with the woman.

According to the South China Morning Post, the scammer then introduced her to cryptocurrency investment, describing it as "the next opportunity to get rich" and positioning themselves as someone with the expertise to guide her.

The victim was walked through the process of setting up a cryptocurrency wallet, receiving detailed step-by-step instructions from the fraudster.

During this process, she was deceived into disclosing her wallet credentials and password.

With access secured, the scammer persuaded her to funnel large sums of money into cryptocurrency purchases. She eventually spent approximately HK$10 million on digital assets, which the fraudster promptly transferred out of her wallet.

The woman only discovered she had been swindled when she checked her cryptocurrency wallet and found it completely empty.

What did the police say?

Following the incident, the Hong Kong police force issued a warning reminding the public never to share cryptocurrency wallet details or passwords with any third party.

Officers also stressed the need for caution when communicating with strangers on social media, particularly when conversations gravitate towards financial transactions or unsolicited attempts to "make friends."

Residents were further urged not to be swayed by promises of "high returns" or "expert tips" from individuals they have met online, regardless of how credible such persons may appear.

How woman conned Kenyans

In a separate story, a Kenyan woman named Michelle uncovered a shocking scheme in which a former campus acquaintance faked her death.

She allegedly scammed mourners out of KSh 27,000.

This deceitful act was revealed when Michelle received condolence messages, prompting a bewildering discovery that she was believed to be deceased by those she barely knew.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.