Oh, the buzz I felt watching that TikTok live! The seller was proudly displaying bale after bale of vibrant, trendy women’s doll shoes, exactly what my customers adore. The wholesale price? An absolute steal in today’s economy. I could already envision myself grabbing a bale, selling them locally, making a substantial profit, and using the proceeds to pay for my children’s school fees. It appeared to be an incredible opportunity. I immediately jumped into the chat, and the seller quickly responded, requesting Ksh 10,000 via M-Pesa for the parcel’s shipping.
They promised the shoes would hitch a ride on a Nairobi-Kisumu matatu and be handed off to the conductor for delivery. Excited, I called my husband, convinced this was our big break, and sent the payment. I even saved the M-Pesa confirmation, feeling a spark of hope for the first time in ages. Days dragged on, no call from the matatu conductor. I dialled the seller’s number; it rang and rang. The M-Pesa transaction showed as complete, but the identity of the recipient remains a mystery. Continue reading.