As we were about to leave, the owner, who's actually just a yearly tenant, called security to bar us from leaving, falsely claiming we hadn't paid. We were LITERALLY HELD HOSTAGES.
#HostageSituation
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Replies
🚨 Beware of a recurring scam by
@UnchartedKenya
and agent Kamau. I've been a victim and want to prevent others from experiencing the same craziness. A thread... 🧵
#ScamAlert
#TravelScam
#kenya
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In November, I booked a holiday home for my family's Christmas week. The agent Kamau from
@UnchartedKenya
quoted me 570K KES for 7 nights, chef included. This was already double the normal rate which Kamau blamed on the high season.
#FraudWarning
#kenya
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I paid half the amount at booking and cleared the balance by December 15th. Everything seemed normal until we checked in on the 27th.
#HolidayScam
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While I was out exploring the property, the housekeeper told my sister that the owner was inquiring about payment. I was surprised, given I had paid in full.
#TravelFraud
#kenya
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The next day, things got weirder. The housekeeper handed me her phone, and the owner was on the line asking about payment. I was shocked and confused.
#Scam
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Turns out, the payment I made didn't reach the owner. Agent Kamau from
@UnchartedKenya
seems to have used it for something else...
#Scammed
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The plot thickens. When I confronted the agent Kamau about the payment issue, he claimed it was an 'office error' and would be resolved soon. Meanwhile, he was telling the owner that I hadn't cleared the payment.
#ScamTactics
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Hours passed without Kamau providing any proof of payment. He kept spinning stories, claiming he had business arrangements with the owner, cash flow issues, loads of lies.
#Deception
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The owner confirmed there were no such arrangements and that I had indeed been scammed. I reported Kamau to the police and booked another place to escape this nightmare.
#ScamAlert
#Reported
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This triggered a crazy dance involving the French embassy and local police. During this mess, we learned that Kamau and the 'owner' have been pulling this scam for years on unsuspecting guests.
#ScamNetwork
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Victims are either bullied into paying twice out of fear or escape without reporting. It's a well-oiled scam operation. And shockingly, I still haven't received a refund from
@UnchartedKenya
.
#JusticePending
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Despite everything, Kamau has the audacity to ask questions about what the staff said and what tips I gave them. Beware of agencies with flashy social media profiles and large followings - they might not be what they seem.
#Scam
#kenya
#tourism
.
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My family and I are safe now, but this experience was exhausting and traumatizing I urge everyone to be extra vigilant when booking holiday homes on the coast in
#kenya
. Share this thread to spread awareness and prevent such scams.
#ShareToSave
#TravelSafe
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I'm currently taking steps to address this legally but want to spread awareness. Please share this thread. Thank you for your support! 🙏
#ShareToCare
#ScamPrevention
#StaySafe
#TravelSmart
#kenya
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