Kenya's Economic Downturn Drives Job Seekers to TikTok, but Scam Advertisers Lurk in the Shadows
A desperate search for employment on TikTok has led some Kenyans to fall prey to scam job ads. The platform's popularity among young people has created an opportunity for unscrupulous recruiters to exploit job seekers.
Lilian, a 35-year-old woman from Qatar, was one of those who fell victim to the scheme. She saw posts from WorldPath House of Travel, a recruitment agency with over 20,000 followers on TikTok, offering jobs overseas. The agency promised hassle-free work visas for jobs across Europe, which Lilian says "seemed too good to be true." After transferring a deposit of 150,000 Kenyan shillings (£870), she received a document with the letterhead of an unregistered recruitment agency in the Netherlands, claiming she had been hired as a "fruits and vegetable sorter" in Amsterdam.
However, WorldPath House of Travel is not registered with Kenya's National Employment Authority, and its supposed partnership with the agency is nonexistent. The general manager of Undutchables, the agency supposedly partnering with WorldPath, described their recruitment effort as a "scam."
The phenomenon of unregistered recruiters on TikTok has been highlighted by reports from multiple job seekers who were deceived into paying deposits for jobs that never materialized. Some were promised lucrative salaries, while others were assured of easy work visas and a better life abroad.
One such victim is Nimo, a 27-year-old woman who paid Halisi Affiliates 150,000 Kenyan shillings in October 2024 to secure her sister's job as a restaurant worker in Romania. The sisters grew suspicious during Zoom calls with Halisi and more than 50 other Kenyans who received the same offer, only to find that the company had closed down its office and social media.
Another victim is Sylvia Wairimu Maina, 31, who paid Global Employment Consultant 100,000 Kenyan shillings in September 2024 for an assistant nursing role in Rotterdam. The agency blamed her for months-long delays and never refunded her money, leaving her with "no money, no savings."
The case of Halisi Affiliates highlights the ease with which unscrupulous recruiters can operate on TikTok. The company denied any connection to its new account on the platform, despite using a tweaked version of its logo.
TikTok's failure to respond to multiple requests for comment raises questions about the platform's role in facilitating these scams. The lack of transparency and accountability from unregistered agencies leaves many job seekers vulnerable to exploitation.
As Kenya's economic downturn continues to drive youth unemployment, it is essential that authorities take action to protect job seekers on TikTok and other social media platforms. The government needs to strengthen its labor export regulations and ensure that recruitment agencies are held accountable for their actions.
In the meantime, job seekers must be cautious when using TikTok or any other platform to find employment opportunities abroad. It is crucial to verify the authenticity of recruitment agencies and job offers before making a decision.
A desperate search for employment on TikTok has led some Kenyans to fall prey to scam job ads. The platform's popularity among young people has created an opportunity for unscrupulous recruiters to exploit job seekers.
Lilian, a 35-year-old woman from Qatar, was one of those who fell victim to the scheme. She saw posts from WorldPath House of Travel, a recruitment agency with over 20,000 followers on TikTok, offering jobs overseas. The agency promised hassle-free work visas for jobs across Europe, which Lilian says "seemed too good to be true." After transferring a deposit of 150,000 Kenyan shillings (£870), she received a document with the letterhead of an unregistered recruitment agency in the Netherlands, claiming she had been hired as a "fruits and vegetable sorter" in Amsterdam.
However, WorldPath House of Travel is not registered with Kenya's National Employment Authority, and its supposed partnership with the agency is nonexistent. The general manager of Undutchables, the agency supposedly partnering with WorldPath, described their recruitment effort as a "scam."
The phenomenon of unregistered recruiters on TikTok has been highlighted by reports from multiple job seekers who were deceived into paying deposits for jobs that never materialized. Some were promised lucrative salaries, while others were assured of easy work visas and a better life abroad.
One such victim is Nimo, a 27-year-old woman who paid Halisi Affiliates 150,000 Kenyan shillings in October 2024 to secure her sister's job as a restaurant worker in Romania. The sisters grew suspicious during Zoom calls with Halisi and more than 50 other Kenyans who received the same offer, only to find that the company had closed down its office and social media.
Another victim is Sylvia Wairimu Maina, 31, who paid Global Employment Consultant 100,000 Kenyan shillings in September 2024 for an assistant nursing role in Rotterdam. The agency blamed her for months-long delays and never refunded her money, leaving her with "no money, no savings."
The case of Halisi Affiliates highlights the ease with which unscrupulous recruiters can operate on TikTok. The company denied any connection to its new account on the platform, despite using a tweaked version of its logo.
TikTok's failure to respond to multiple requests for comment raises questions about the platform's role in facilitating these scams. The lack of transparency and accountability from unregistered agencies leaves many job seekers vulnerable to exploitation.
As Kenya's economic downturn continues to drive youth unemployment, it is essential that authorities take action to protect job seekers on TikTok and other social media platforms. The government needs to strengthen its labor export regulations and ensure that recruitment agencies are held accountable for their actions.
In the meantime, job seekers must be cautious when using TikTok or any other platform to find employment opportunities abroad. It is crucial to verify the authenticity of recruitment agencies and job offers before making a decision.
come on tiktok how can u let this happen?? 
these scammers r taking advantage of desperate people who cant even get jobs here in kenya 
i mean whats the point of having all those followers if ur just gonna use them 2 scam ppl? 
150k shillings is a lot of money dont they know that its just a deposit 
anyways u need 2 be more strict on these recruiters & agencies they should b held accountable for their actions 
It's just not right that someone can promise you a dream job overseas with all the bells and whistles, but it turns out to be a total fake. I mean, who wouldn't want to work in Europe or abroad? But the thing is, if you're not careful, you could end up losing money and time.
they just let anyone make an account and post jobs, no vetting whatsoever! i mean, who checks if these agencies are legit?! 
i say tiktok needs 2 step up their game and start taking responsibility for these scams! 
we need stronger regulations and more transparency, like, who's behind these agencies?! 
how much r they paying tiktok to post these ads?! 
this is so sad lilian & nimo were just trying to make ends meet but got scammed 
what's going on with the recruitment agencies tho? how did they get away with it for so long?! 
tiktok needs to step up their game & do more to prevent these scams 
and yeah, let's hope the gov does something about it soon 
. As a platform with over 1 billion active users, particularly among young people in Kenya who are seeking employment opportunities abroad, it is imperative that TikTok takes proactive steps to address this issue 
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. As a platform that enables global connections, it's crucial that they take responsibility for creating a safe space for job seekers to find employment opportunities abroad 
. The government must also play its part in regulating the recruitment industry and protecting citizens from exploitation 
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anyway i think we need to be super careful when using social media for job searching, especially with those scam ads popping up left and right 
it's like, yes the job might seem legit at first but then you're getting asked to pay a deposit or something... that's always red flag 