The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has issued a public alert warning of a fraudulent online scheme falsely presented as a job and grant initiative. The scam involves a deceptive Google Form being circulated on various platforms, misleadingly branded under KNCCI’s name.

The fake document, titled “KENYA NATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY GRANT APPLICATION”, falsely claims to offer financial support of up to Sh77 million to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

It alleges that the programme is a joint effort between KNCCI and several development partners, including the African Guarantee Fund and the African Development Fund.

“This form is not from any of our official or verified communication channels. It is clearly a ploy to collect sensitive personal and business data by masquerading as a legitimate funding opportunity,” KNCCI stated in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, @kenya_chamber, on Monday, July 28, 2025.

The Chamber raised concerns about the format and language used in the scam, noting that it employs development jargon, references to credible organizations, and a formal structure to appear genuine.

The form requests detailed information including gender, occupation, residence, business sector, workforce size, and the impact of global economic challenges on operations.

KNCCI firmly denied any involvement in the initiative and reiterated that no such grant programme or partnership currently exists. The organization urged Kenyans to be vigilant and refrain from sharing personal or financial information through unverified online links.

“We caution all members of the public to avoid engaging with the fraudulent form and to always rely on our verified platforms for authentic updates and opportunities,” the Chamber emphasized.

They further encouraged anyone who may have already interacted with the scam to report the incident and take immediate action to secure their personal data.

Cybercrime experts warn that scammers often design professional-looking content to gain public trust. KNCCI’s warning comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of digital platforms to perpetrate fraud, especially targeting entrepreneurs and job seekers.

“We must remain united in fighting misinformation and protecting our business community from cyber threats,” the statement concluded.