Wambo Ashley conned by fake TikTok housing agent

Wambo Ashley, the partner of popular content creator Nicholas Kioko, has shared how a simple scroll through social media turned into an expensive lesson after she fell victim to an online housing scam.

Ashley recounted that the incident began while she was relaxing in bed with her child, Rowena, when she came across a property listing on TikTok that appeared ideal for their family.

The couple had been actively searching for a new home as part of a planned “moving out” content series for their followers. While browsing, Ashley noticed a listing for a large mansion located in an estate near Roysambu, which immediately caught her attention.

A Deal That Seemed Too Good to Be True

The property was advertised at a monthly rent of KSh40,000 — a price that seemed unusually low considering the size and location of the house. Intrigued by the offer, Ashley contacted the supposed agent featured in the TikTok post, who quickly shared a phone number for the alleged landlady.

During their conversation, the woman used a personal story to gain Ashley’s trust. She claimed the house had originally been built for her own family but explained that they had recently relocated abroad after her husband secured a job outside the country.

According to Ashley, the woman said she wanted a young family to occupy the house and take good care of it, which she used to justify the lower rental price.

“I was excited about how I would surprise babe with a cheap house,” Ashley recalled.

Pressure to Make a Quick Payment

The situation escalated when the alleged agents insisted the property was attracting massive interest online. They pointed to the large number of comments on the TikTok post as proof that many people were competing for the house.

Ashley was told that whoever paid first would secure the property.

Feeling pressured to lock in the deal before someone else claimed it, she agreed to send the money before visiting the house in person.

“The confusing part was when she told me to send money before I went to view the house. He convinced me the house was in high demand, and from the comments everyone was asking about it, so I believed him,” she explained.

How the Scam Unfolded

Ashley eventually lost the money in two separate payments. She first transferred KSh40,000 — funds that had been set aside for her child’s school fees — to the supposed agent.

In a rush to secure the booking, she later sent another KSh40,000 directly to the person posing as the landlady, believing the two were working together and would sort out the payment between themselves.

Instead, both individuals disappeared with the funds.

The incident has since become a cautionary story about the growing risks associated with online property listings and social media advertisements.

What began as an exciting step for the Kioko family ultimately turned into a costly reminder of the sophisticated tactics increasingly used by online fraudsters.