Stay safe from online scams

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Here's how to protect yourself.

Red flags

You must pay a registration, training or 'activation' fee to get work.
Promises of large, guaranteed daily income for little effort.
Requests for your M-Pesa PIN, bank PIN, passwords or one-time codes.
Someone 'overpays' you and asks you to send the difference back.
Pressure to act fast: 'only 3 slots left today'.
Offers to rent or buy someone else's freelancing or writing account.
Recruiting friends is the main way to earn (pyramid schemes).

Stay protected

Research the company name plus 'scam' or 'reviews'.
Use official websites and app stores only.
Keep payments inside trusted platforms.
Never share PINs or one-time codes with anyone.
Talk to someone you trust before sending money.
Report scams to the platform and to local authorities.

Remember: real employers and legitimate platforms pay you. You should never have to pay to get hired.