The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has issued a stern caution to the public regarding a recent surge in counterfeit ranger recruitment letters being circulated by fraudulent individuals.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, KWS urges citizens to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activity to the nearest KWS Station or Police Station.
"The attention of Kenya Wildlife Service has been drawn to fake calling letters being issued by fraudsters," KWS stated in a statement.
"As stated in the advert and at all recruitment centres, the recruitment process was free of charge," emphasized KWS, underlining the official nature of the recruitment process.
KWS noted that genuine recruitment cards boast distinct security features, including a central KWS logo watermark and unique serial numbers.
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Discerning citizens are advised to scrutinize the serial numbers, as the series on genuine cards varies from those on counterfeit ones.
"The KWS genuine recruitment cards have distinct security features, including a central KWS logo watermark and unique serial numbers. The serial number series on genuine cards differs from those on fake ones. Additionally, the fake card contains grammatical errors, incorrect formatting, wrong reporting dates and signature," KWS stated.
However, due to security concerns, KWS refrains from publicly displaying samples of genuine cards.
Responding to allegations of individuals being denied entry to KWS despite purported recruitment, Tourism CS Alfred Mutua shed light on ongoing investigations.
"Four individuals are already in custody over allegations of fraud related to this incident," remarked Mutua, affirming the government's commitment to addressing such fraudulent activities.
In a related incident, three suspects recently faced charges at the Embu Law Courts for allegedly soliciting a bribe to facilitate the recruitment of two sisters into KWS.
They denied the charges and were released on a bond of Sh500,000 with a surety of a similar amount or a cash bail of Sh250,000 with one contact person.
The trio was accused of fraudulent conduct, they purportedly obtained money totalling Sh469,000 from another individual under false pretences of securing job opportunities at KWS for his two daughters.
As investigations unfold and legal proceedings progress, authorities urge citizens to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of any recruitment-related communications.
The collective effort to combat such fraudulent schemes remains vital in safeguarding the integrity of recruitment processes and protecting the public from financial exploitation.
