10 Common Scams Targeting House Helps — And How to Stay Safe in 2025

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House helps and nannies are among the most hardworking people in our homes — yet they are also some of the most targeted by scammers. Many criminals know that domestic workers often handle children, household items, and sometimes money, making them easy targets.

At House Girls Village & Bureau, we have seen many cases where house helps were manipulated, threatened, or tricked. This guide highlights the 10 most common scams targeting house helps in Kenya and how both employers and house helps can stay safe.

A House help at home home confirming a detail.
A House help at home home confirming a detail.

1. The “Your Boss Is in Trouble” Phone Call

A stranger calls the house help pretending to be:

  • the employer,

  • a relative of the employer,

  • or a police officer.

They claim the boss has been arrested, is in an accident, or urgently needs money.
The scammer pressures the house help to send M-Pesa or hand over valuables.

How to stay safe:
No employer will send money requests through strangers. Hang up immediately and call the boss directly.

2. Fake Job Promotion or Salary Increase

Scammers pretend to be from:

  • a cleaning agency,

  • a bureau,

  • or a government office.

They tell the house help they’ve been “selected” for a higher-paying job and must pay a processing fee.

How to stay safe:
No genuine bureau asks for money through phone calls or SMS. Always confirm through official numbers.

3. M-Pesa Reversal Scam

A stranger sends money to the house help, claiming it was a mistake.
Moments later, they “call Safaricom” and claim the reversal failed — then pressure the house help to return the money.

Later, Safaricom reverses the transaction — leaving the house help with a loss.

How to stay safe:
Never send money back to a number you don’t know. Wait for official Safaricom reversal.

4. Religious “Blessing” Scams

A fake pastor or prophet tells a house help to give money or household items for “prayers,” “healing,” or “miracles.”

How to stay safe:
Real spiritual help does not require secret payments or gifts.

Click here to know 8 benefits of conducting a phone interview when hiring.

5. Fake Delivery or Parcel Charges

Someone appears at the gate claiming to deliver a parcel “paid for by the employer.”
They then demand payment or “delivery fees.”

How to stay safe:
A house help should never pay for deliveries. Always confirm directly with the employer.

6. Romance and Online Dating Scams

House helps may be approached by men who:

  • offer gifts,

  • promise marriage,

  • or ask for M-Pesa help.

This often turns into exploitation, financial abuse, or blackmail.

How to stay safe:
Be cautious with strangers who promise too much too quickly.

7. Child Kidnap or Fake Relative Scam

Strangers show up claiming to be:

  • the mother,

  • aunt,

  • or grandfather of the child.

They try to walk away with the child.

How to stay safe:
House helps must be instructed never to release a child without confirmation from the employer.

8. Fake Police or “City Council” Officers

A scammer dressed like an officer threatens the house help with arrest for:

  • noise,

  • “illegal employment,”

  • or lacking identification.

They demand immediate payment.

How to stay safe:
Ask for identification. Genuine officers do not collect cash on the spot.

Read Related: Why you need to Hire From a Reliable Bureau

9. Loan and Sacco Scams

House helps are told they can easily get:

  • instant loans,

  • Chama money,

  • or government grants — after paying a registration fee.

How to stay safe:
Avoid any financial service that requires payment before receiving a loan.

10. Household Item Swap or Repair Scam

Someone comes to the gate claiming to be:

  • a gas technician,

  • DSTV repairer,

  • or appliance technician.

Once let in, they steal items or swap working appliances with broken ones.

How to stay safe:
House helps should never allow service people into the home without employer confirmation.

How Employers Can Protect Their House Helps

To reduce the chances of your house help being scammed:

✔️ Train them on common scams

Explain how these schemes work.

✔️ Create clear communication rules

Example: “If anyone calls asking for money, call me FIRST.”

✔️ Save emergency numbers on their phone

Boss, bureau, nearest police post.

✔️ Support your house help emotionally

A confident, respected house help is harder to manipulate.

Conclusion

Scammers are becoming smarter every day, but with awareness and proper training, house helps can stay safe.
Both employers and domestic workers must work together to create a secure home environment.

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