IN SHORT: Scammers often seek the attention of the poor and desperate by promising them easy loans. Being asked to engage privately in order to access a loan is a sign that you are dealing with a scammer.
The Facebook page Zenka Loan Cash is offering loans to Kenyans of between KSh5,000 and KSh50,000 (about US$33 to $335).
According to the page, all Facebook users need to do is to type the word “loan” in the comment section and wait for a reply.
The page uses the name and graphics of Zenka Kenya, a digital credit provider. It has posted the offers multiple times on a Facebook group with over 50,000 members.
They appear here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. Hundreds have commented on the posts, asking how they can access the loans.
But is the page and the loan offers legit? We checked.
Ignore imposter page
We noted the page is not linked to any website and asks users to give their contact details in the comment section. This is suspicious since reputable financial institutions normally have an official website and would strive to protect their customers' privacy.
The page has little activity on its timeline but publishes frequently on the Facebook group. Little to no activity on a Facebook page's timeline is usually a sign that it is fake.
Zenka’s official Facebook page has over 64,000 followers and can be accessed from the company’s website www.zenka.co.ke. It features well-written messages, unlike the account in question, and encourages users to apply for loans on its app.
The ads posted on Facebook by the page Zenka Loan Cash are a scam.
Africa Check has debunked similar Facebook pages here and here.
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