IN SHORT: Kenyans interested in joining the motorbike taxi industry should be cautious of a fake Facebook account impersonating a reputable company to scam them.
The Facebook account James Mark Omagwa targets aspiring motorbike taxi operators in Kenya by offering them motorbikes on credit.
The account urges them to pay a deposit of KSh5,700 (about US$43), with the balance to be paid in daily instalments, in order to receive a motorbike.
Its cover photo shows the premises of Mark Holdings Limited, a Kenyan company that sells motorbikes and spare parts.
It displays various brands of both new and used motorbikes and asks interested users to call or send a WhatsApp message to the phone number provided.
But can the account and its offers be trusted? We checked.
Signs of a scam
Although the account uses an image of Mark Holdings Limited, it does not link to the company’s website or any other website. And the account’s contact details don’t match those listed on the company’s website. These are clear signs that it is not affiliated with Mark Holdings Limited.
It also provides conflicting information about its location. Its “Intro” section on Facebook claims the business is based in Voi – a town in Taita-Taveta county in southern Kenya. But under the “About” section, it shows that the account operator lives in Kisumu, a city in Kisumu county, western Kenya. This is another red flag.
The account has also republished its adverts hundreds of times across different Facebook groups – a common tactic used by fake pages and accounts to attract as many unsuspecting users as possible. In contrast, genuine companies typically rely on paid promotions to grow their reach.
Africa Check reached out to Mark Holdings Limited to verify its official website and Facebook page. According to the company, its website is www.markholdingskenya.com and its official Facebook page is BAJAJ BOXER BIKES. The offers in question don’t appear on the company’s official Facebook page.
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