Nothing speaks louder about your competence than receiving a job referral. Recently, I got a call about a potentially life-changing opportunity at a government parastatal.

The supposed recruiter then said he would arrange an interview if I was interested and of course I was.

To get things moving, I needed to send my curriculum vitae by 2 PM. With the help of a friend, I managed to prepare and submit it just in time.

Up to this point everything looked legit. The person's email had the name of the parastatal in it hence looked like an official email.

But then the requests started coming in; constant calls and emails demanding more information, all with urgent deadlines.

At 10 AM the next day, the recruiter asked for several statutory documents, which I didn't have on hand. I explained that obtaining documents like a certificate of good conduct and an EACC certificate would take time.

He assured me he had a contact at Huduma Center Nairobi who could expedite the process.

When I called this referral, he immediately congratulated me on the job—my first red flag. Instead of pausing, I chose to see this as a positive sign.

He then asked for payment to fast-track the documents, another red flag I overlooked due to the urgency of the situation.

Hesitant but I sent the money telling myself, "pesa hupotelea kwingi" (money gets lost in many ways). It was only afterward that I remembered I could access some of the documents through my phone.

The recruiter kept pressuring me, asking if I'd received the documents which I had only received two. He extended the deadline, but urged me not to accept a refund from his contact at Huduma.

He claimed the Huduma Center contact needed more money to process the remaining documents.

Feeling uneasy, I sought advice and learned that some of the documents the recruiter was requesting weren't typically provided to individuals. Instead, they were confidential and issued directly to organizations.

This revelation hit me hard. What I had initially seen as a golden opportunity now seemed more like a carefully crafted scam.

That's when I realized 'nimekaribishwa Town'; a phrase often used when someone gets conned.

To cut a long story short, I ended up losing Sh14,000 in the process. The recruiter would later switch off his phone and I didn't get all my documents.

When searching for a new job, knowing how to differentiate between a scam and a legitimate offer can save you a lot of trouble.

Joseph Ndambuki, Senior Human Resource Manager at Menengai Oil, explains that spotting a fake recruiter can be difficult if you don't know what to look for. It's crucial to recognize red flags and identify scams early on.

"Scammers lure you with high-paying jobs that require minimal effort, but in the end, they're the only ones who profit. Often, the job doesn't exist at all," he says.

Many scammers claim to represent prestigious companies, impersonating senior officials to steal your money.

"They often ask for payment so you can start the role and the hiring process is quick. On some occasions, there’s no interview or discussion about your qualifications, experience, and references," Ndambuki explains.

He emphasizes the importance of thoroughly researching the company and the job offer, even if it means calling the company directly.

Additionally, he points out that most government job opportunities are published in mainstream media and on official websites, complete with clear contact information.

Ndambuki advises being wary of job offers that require immediate action, noting that a legitimate offer won't pressure you to decide quickly.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

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