Kenco, also known as Kenco Coffee Investment, is reaching the final stages of its scam cycle.
Since July 2024, this unregistered and unregulated scheme has been luring South African investors with promises of high returns from so-called “investment machines.”
Like other scams linked to Trouva (trouva-c2c.com, trouva-o2o.com), Kenco (kc-kenco.com) has been riding on the reputation of a well-known brand—in this case, the UK coffee giant Kenco—to create a veneer of legitimacy.
Now, with a withdrawal freeze in place since 3 October 2024, Kenco is making one last desperate attempt to extract more money from investors before the inevitable collapse.
The Last Gasp: A Familiar Trouva Scam Tactic
In typical Trouva-scam style, Kenco is now requesting additional deposits from its so-called investors, claiming this is necessary to unlock their accounts and enable withdrawals.
This is a classic ploy, also used by scams like Trouva (trouva-c2c.com, trouva-o2o.com) and the Centamin scam (cm-gold.com, centamin-za.com, ctmza.com, centa-xty.com, centamin-sa.com, and cmin-lw.com).
In a recent message circulated through Kenco’s WhatsApp groups, the scam’s operators announced:
“With the massive increase in Kenco members, in order to cooperate with the bank’s system upgrade.
At the same time, in order to ensure the safety of all members’ funds and smooth withdrawals, the bank requires all Kenco members to deposit R1580 into their Kenco accounts for verification before unlocking risks and completing withdrawals.
Members who have completed payment will send me the following information:
-
- Screenshot of payment receipt
- Kenco number
Authentication time 8:00-12:00
Complete authentication and recharge funds. You can withdraw your account balance and your authentication amount at any time.”
This demand for a further R1580 deposit is an attempt to manipulate investors, leveraging their hope to recover funds in order to squeeze one last bit of cash from them.
For Trouva scams, this is a familiar tactic used to drain every last cent before the operators disappear.
The promise of account reactivation is simply a ruse, and unfortunately, many will fall for it, convinced they’re just one step away from regaining their money.
The Myth of Legitimacy: Kenco is Not Registered
One of the hallmarks of Trouva-linked scams is the creation of an illusion of legitimacy, often borrowing the names of reputable brands to appear trustworthy.
Kenco has done precisely this, piggybacking on the name of the UK coffee company Kenco (kenco.co.uk).
However, despite the branding, Kenco Coffee Investment has no ties to the real Kenco and is not a registered investment or financial services provider in South Africa.
A search of the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) database shows that there are various entities with “Kenco” in their names, but none of them are connected to this so-called investment scheme.
More critically, as a supposed investment platform, Kenco is not registered with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).
Without this registration, Kenco is operating illegally as a financial services provider in South Africa, further confirming its status as a scam.
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Holding Out Hope While the Scam Crumbles
For those who have invested in Kenco, the urge to comply with this new deposit request is strong, especially since the kc-kenco.com website remains live.
This is a calculated move to sustain the illusion of operations, tricking investors into believing the business is ongoing.
The presence of the website adds a layer of credibility, encouraging investors to make a last deposit in the hope that they can withdraw their funds.
This strategy has proven effective in the past with other Trouva scams. Even as the schemes begin to unravel, the hope of a payout keeps investors on the hook.
Kenco’s claims about system upgrades and “bank verification” requirements are nothing more than ploys to elicit one final investment.
And just as with Trouva and Centamin, many will take the bait, convinced they’re just one step away from recovering their funds.
Recognising the Signs: The Scam’s Collapse is Imminent
The telltale signs of Kenco’s impending collapse are unmistakable:
- Withdrawal Freezes: Starting on 3 October 2024, investors have reported being unable to withdraw funds. This is a familiar step in the Trouva scam playbook, marking the final stage before operations cease completely.
- Last-Ditch Deposit Requests: Demands for additional deposits under the guise of “account verification” signal a final attempt to drain investors of their money. This is a signature move of Trouva scams, playing on the hope that investors will recover their funds if they just comply one last time.
- Active Domain, Inactive Operations: The kc-kenco.com website remains online, but this is a facade. The ongoing domain presence is a calculated deception, designed to maintain the illusion of legitimacy while the scam operators prepare their exit.
The message is clear: Kenco is done. The website may remain online for now, but the scam has run its course. Any further deposits will be lost, as Kenco’s operation is in its final phase.
Like Trouva and Centamin, Kenco will soon disappear, leaving its victims with empty promises and lost funds.
The Final Lesson: Avoiding Trouva-Style Scams
The Trouva network has shown time and again that it’s willing to exploit well-known brand names, manipulate emotions, and deploy last-minute deposit requests to maximise its haul. Here’s how to spot these scams:
- High Returns, Low Transparency: If an investment platform promises quick, high returns without verifiable legitimacy, it’s likely a scam.
- Fake Brand Associations: Scammers like those behind Kenco exploit reputable brand names to create a veneer of trust. If you’re being asked to invest in a brand-related opportunity, verify its authenticity directly.
- Last-Minute Deposit Demands: When a platform blocks withdrawals and demands further deposits for account verification, it’s an attempt to drain every last cent before the inevitable shutdown.
Kenco’s downfall is a reminder to stay vigilant and sceptical. This is no legitimate coffee investment—it’s a con job.
Walk away, warn others, and recognise that the website still being online is just part of the scam’s closing act. The money is gone, and Kenco is simply another chapter in Trouva’s well-rehearsed scam playbook.
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