Rogue Loan Apps Now Serving Fake Court Documents to Intimidate Borrowers

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Unregulated digital lenders in Kenya have adopted new tactics to pressure borrowers into repaying debts, with some now serving forged court documents disguised as official notices. The fake papers are designed to create fear and force victims to settle their loans immediately, even when the debts are disputed or inflated.

According to Advocate Wanjohi Gachie of WANJOHI GACHIE & CO. ADVOCATES, his law firm recently handled a case involving a client who received a falsified document titled “Notice of First Mention Upon Filing.”

The document appeared authentic, complete with the Republic of Kenya heading, a fake case number, and a false date of mention. It also contained a counterfeit Judiciary of Kenya stamp labeled “Milimani Small Claims Court” and a blue-ink impression resembling official court markings.

Further examination revealed that the document included a fabricated case number, “SCCCOMM/E000000/2025,” and a made-up mention date. The document also carried a fraudulent barcode intended to mimic those used in legitimate Judiciary filings. Advocate Gachie noted that the scammers had even added a disclaimer suggesting the case was in the process of being received by the court, to make it appear genuine.

The Nairobi-based lawyer explained that these rogue loan apps have resorted to using fake court documents after their previous attempts to sue borrowers were dismissed.

Most of the apps involved are not registered lenders and have no authority to offer credit or pursue borrowers in court. They are not licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and have not complied with the requirements of Section 30 of the Banking Act, which governs money lending operations.

After their cases were thrown out, some operators began fabricating judicial documents to scare borrowers into paying. Borrowers who receive such notices are often misled into believing that they have an active court case, and fearing possible legal costs or imprisonment, they end up sending payments to the lenders.

Legal experts warn that such acts amount to forgery and could lead to criminal prosecution. The fake notices typically include false court references and fabricated stamps to mimic official correspondence from Kenyan courts. These tactics exploit borrowers who may not have access to legal advice or the means to verify the authenticity of documents.

Advocate Gachie advised Kenyans to take precautionary steps to verify court documents from loan apps before acting on them.

Verification can be done using several official Judiciary tools. The Judiciary mobile app, available on the Google Play Store, allows users to validate case details and confirm whether a document originates from a legitimate court.

Borrowers can also use the Judiciary Case Tracking System (CTS) through the official Judiciary website, which provides a “Validate” option to check case numbers and parties involved.

Those without access to online platforms are encouraged to visit the nearest court registry for manual verification. Judiciary officials at the registry can confirm whether a notice or order has been filed and if a case number is valid.

Legal practitioners are also urging affected borrowers to report any suspicious documents to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for further action. Forgeries of this nature constitute criminal offenses under Kenyan law and can attract heavy penalties.

Jefferson Wachira is a writer at Africa Digest News, specializing in banking and finance trends, and their impact on African economies.