The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has issued a stern warning to Kenyans to remain vigilant against a growing wave of online scams using phishing techniques to steal personal and financial information.
In a statement released on Tuesday, October 7, the DCI cautioned that phishing remains one of the most common cybercrime tactics targeting unsuspecting internet users. The agency explained that the scam involves criminals posing as legitimate organizations or individuals to deceive victims into revealing sensitive details such as identification numbers, passwords, usernames, credit card information, or CVV codes.
According to detectives, these attacks are often executed through fake links, fraudulent websites, deceptive emails, or text messages that closely mimic trusted sources. “Phishing typically involves an attacker sending a fraudulent message that appears to come from a reputable institution or service provider,” the DCI said in its statement.
The agency noted that scammers often use enticing or alarming language to prompt hasty action. Messages may claim to offer rewards such as “Click this link to get unlimited talk time on all networks,” or use scare tactics like “Your account will be closed in 24 hours.” Once a user follows the instructions and submits personal data, the criminals capture and misuse the information for fraudulent activities, including unauthorized financial transactions.
Kenyans were urged to exercise caution by avoiding suspicious links, pop-ups, attachments, or messages from unfamiliar senders, and to verify all digital communication purportedly from financial or government institutions.
The warning follows a series of alerts from the DCI concerning a surge in cybercrime cases in recent months. On October 2, the agency also advised Kenyans to strengthen their online security by adopting robust password practices, including creating passwords up to 64 characters long and incorporating spaces to make them harder to crack.
DCI detectives emphasized that cybersecurity begins with individual responsibility, urging Kenyans to remain alert and adopt best practices to safeguard their digital lives.
