Residents of Ngong have been urged to exercise heightened caution following the emergence of a new fraud scheme targeting mobile phone users and Social Health Authority (SHA) registration processes.
Ngong Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Jacob Ndunda issued the warning during a public forum held yesterday, citing a surge in cases involving criminals posing as legitimate mobile registration agents.
According to Ndunda, the fraudsters, believed to be operating from outside Ngong approach unsuspecting individuals under the guise of assisting with mobile line registration and SHA updates. Their primary targets are women, who are often lured into sharing personal details and mobile access, only to lose money within seconds.
“Fraudsters are coming from other parts posing as mobile phone registration agents and SHA officials. They mostly target women, and in the end, fall prey to scams where their money is stolen in just a few seconds,” said Ndunda.
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He noted that the criminals exploit digital loan platforms such as M-Shwari, Fuliza, and KCB mobile loans, leaving victims saddled with debts of up to Ksh. 20,000 without their knowledge. The OCS emphasized that such scams tend to spike during the festive season, when financial activity is high.
Ndunda urged residents to avoid engaging with strangers offering mobile registration services and instead visit official outlets, which are widely available and regulated. He stressed the importance of safeguarding personal data and warned against sharing mobile credentials with unverified individuals.
In addition to the fraud alert, Ndunda raised concerns about a growing wave of juvenile crime in Mathare slum, Ngong, where school-going children are increasingly involved in petty theft. He said the minors often target homes during working hours, stealing electronics and household items that are later sold to secondhand dealers and scrap metal buyers.
“We are seeing a worrying trend where school children are being recruited into petty theft rings. They wait for residents to leave for work, then break into homes and steal electronics, gas cylinders, and other valuables. These items are quickly offloaded to scrap dealers and secondhand shops,” Ndunda stated.
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He called on parents, teachers, and community leaders to intervene early and guide the youth away from criminal behavior, warning that unchecked juvenile crime could escalate into more serious offenses.
The Ngong police have pledged to intensify patrols and community engagement efforts to curb both fraud and juvenile delinquency. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity and participate in local safety forums to strengthen neighborhood vigilance.
By Masaki Enock
