OLX and Some black market forums/groups turn into a heaven for  robbers (Photo by www.wndu.com)

Since it was established, OlX the largest classified website in  Kenya has grown to become a home of Scammers and robbers.  They mutate on a daily basis. The old  tactic of conning which buyers and sellers are now aware of is the one where a product like iPhone 5s  is posted on OLX at an extraordinary cheap price to attract customers who fall into the trap.  They then ask them to deposit  a certain amount of money (70%). Thereafter they go missing.
After so much out cry from the public over increase of scammers, OLX made a press announcement warning its users not to pay for a product they have not seen. Part of the long statement read “…beware of fraudsters who are posting genuine items, but later produce faulty ones or rip-off interested buyers.”
But here comes  one of the most dangerous and new form of Robbery emanating from OLX. The story  below was shared by Kenyayote.com reader who was robbed by a buyer.

“I got scammed! I am sharing my story with Kenyayote.com with the hope that it will reach a number of its  readers and warn them to be careful when selling their products on OLX and Black Markets.”
My almost near death experience happened on the Thursday of 21st January 2016. As most of you are aware, OLX is Kenya’s top free classified advertisement website. Where users buy and sell their products online.
I advertised a laptop for sale on OLX.  A guy replied  via call number 0732306110 and we engaged in negotiations during which he disclosed that he works for EABL. We agreed to meet at Garden City Mall  where where the transaction would take place.

The day came! Two smartly dressed guys arrived with a Silver Toyota  Premio  KBP  826R. They happened to be my customers.  We had a short  business conversation about the laptop and one of them (the buyer) said that he needed to test the CD drive . So he went to buy the CD and left me with his friend. Shortly he called and told me to go meet him in National Bank that was  there. I was a fool. I decided to go. But before i got further something just stroke my mind. This might be a mind game. Maybe i am being tricked. I decided to go back to where i left his friend with the car. But hell broke loose. His friend turned on the engine, drove away almost running on me.

My laptop was gone but i thank God i survived.

Please BEWARE about Scammers and Cons on OLX and Black Market forums. Do not buy  a product before you see and when selling get the buyer  to come to you at a safe location.

You can also  check: List of online Kenya con men and con women that you should be aware of here
Have you ever been conned online in Kenya? Let us know your story