It is always an uphill task to find accommodation in town especially if you are a 'freshaa' who have just come to town from upcountry or a student joining college.
Most of the times one will move from one estate to the next looking for a rental house that meets their budget which is not an easy thing to come by if more so you have no one who knows the area where you are searching for the house.
In Thika, however, there is a group of people who have come to fill in this gap by 'helping' you in the search of a rental house with little hustle only that after paying what they ask you to pay say deposit, you will never hear from them again.
They are blatant conmen capitalizing on students or town newcomers' desperation to rob them in broad daylight with little efforts.
Walking around the town's estates you will find many 'HOUSE TO LET' posters pinned on trees, electric posts or adjacent to new buildings that are about to get complete or just got completed.
You must be very wary of such 'adverts' as you could just be about to to take your desperation to another level after losing your money to a conman.
Some conmen have perfected the art of coning people and are now duping people with these fake adverts.
"I had just completed college last year and I desperately wanted a house because I wanted to remain in town and hustle for a job. So I come across a 'House to Let' poster in Makongeni Estate and I decide to call the number.
"The conman tricked me into believing that he was actually the landlord's son of the house in question before I sent him a deposit of Sh4,500 that escaped into thin air," says Esther Wairimu, a victim.
John Macharia, another victim, recalls being told that the house in question was on very high demand and was even sent 'beautiful photos' of the house interior via WhatsApp.
"The seemingly old man on the other side of the line told me that there was a guy who was to enter the house the following day but if I sent him the deposit immediately, he would give me the house. I obliged and that was the end of it.I am yet to recover my money," he says.
The conmen are said to have a very good understanding of the area or estate in question and will almost be aware of almost any vacant house to let or a new building ready for renting, so when you call them they are almost sure you will fall into their paws.