If you've ever sent money for a "pickup" or "shopping run" and waited anxiously to see if it actually happened, you're not alone. As errand and delivery services grow in Nairobi, so do the scams and most of them follow a similar pattern.

The red flags to watch for:

No proof of purchase. A legitimate runner should be able to send you a photo of the receipt, the item, or the location and before or right after the errand. If someone refuses or gets vague when you ask for proof, that's a warning sign.

Payment upfront with no verification process. It's normal to pay for items in advance, but a trustworthy service will have some system for confirming the errand actually happened not just a promise.

No reviews, no track record, no way to check them. A real business usually has some online presence — a Facebook page, reviews, a working contact number that's been active for a while.

Pressure to pay through informal channels only. Be cautious of runners who only accept untraceable payment methods and avoid any form of receipt or confirmation.

What a trustworthy errand service should offer:

A clear quote before the errand starts. A way to confirm the task is complete; a receipt, a photo, or a message at each stop. A real point of contact you can reach if something goes wrong.

At ErrandsEaseSolutions, every errand comes with verification — a receipt, a photo, or confirmation at the stop because we believe you shouldn't have to just take someone's word for it.