The Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) has warned business owners and entrepreneurs about a fraudulent message circulating on WhatsApp that falsely claims the government is offering free business-name registration to 250,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
In an update on Thursday, August 20, the authority said the message purports to be part of a partnership between the Business Registration Service (BRS) and MSEA.
However, MSEA has disowned the offer, warning that the link attached to the message could be designed to steal users’ personal information or money.
MSEA said it is not participating in the purported free registration exercise and has not authorised the message or offer.
"This is not from MSEA. MSEA is not participating in this offer and has not authorized it," the authority warned.
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Business owners have been urged not to click on the link contained in the message, particularly because doing so could expose their personal and financial information to fraudsters.
"Do not click the link - it may steal your personal data or money," MSEA said.
The authority further cautioned members of the public against submitting sensitive information through the suspicious page, including identification details, tax information, telephone numbers and mobile money details.
"Do not share your ID, KRA PIN, phone number, M-PESA or business details on that page," the warning stated.
MSEA also urged recipients of the message not to help spread the scam by forwarding it to other business owners. Instead, those who receive it should report it.
"Do not forward the message. Report it," MSEA advised.
The authority clarified that its official registration process for micro and small enterprises is being conducted through the e-Citizen platform.
It urged business owners to rely only on the official channel and disregard links, portals or individuals claiming to offer the registration through other platforms.
"The only official MSE registration MSEA is conducting is on e-Citizen: msea.ecitizen.go.ke. Ignore any other link, portal or agent.
"MSEA will not be liable for any loss suffered by persons who respond to such unauthorized offers," the authority stated.
This comes weeks after the government warned members of the public against a fraudulent group claiming to recruit and register beneficiaries for the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation Project (KJET) and the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
In a notice on Wednesday, July 29, MSEA flagged a WhatsApp group circulating messages that demand payments from members of the public in exchange for registration and access to programme benefits.
A screenshot shared by MSEA shows a group dubbed 'NYOTA FORUM,' where an administrator claims to be selecting beneficiaries and instructs interested individuals to contact them privately.
The message further suggests that priority would be given to successful KJET applicants and NYOTA beneficiaries, raising fears that unsuspecting members of the public could be lured into paying money to fraudsters.
MSEA cautioned that the group is not affiliated with the authority or the government programmes it claims to represent.
"It has come to our attention that a forum/group is fraudulently charging youth and other members of the public a fee to 'join' or 'register' as beneficiaries of the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation Project-KJET and the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement. Don’t fall for it," the notice read.
The authority emphasized that participation in both programmes does not require any payment at any stage.
"KJET & NYOTA are 100% free - no fees are charged to apply, register, or participate," the notice added.
