A dream car, a convincing London address and a bank transfer worth millions of shillings. For a Nakuru buyer, what appeared to be a straightforward deal for a Toyota Corolla Cross has become a costly ordeal, with the money gone and the vehicle undelivered.
Documents reviewed by the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) reveal how a transaction involving a company calling itself Global Int Ltd, which advertised itself as the “UK’s Leading Car Exporter”, unravelled amid discrepancies in payment references, company names and the absence of verifiable shipping evidence.
The case exposes the risks facing Kenyans who send millions of shillings overseas to purchase vehicles they have never physically inspected.
The Sh2.3 million transfer
According to COFEK, the deal began on May 14, 2026, when Global Int Ltd issued Nakuru resident W.N. a proforma invoice for a black, automatic 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross, supposedly destined for Mombasa.
The invoice, numbered 2026051419756, listed the vehicle under stock number T123651. It quoted a vehicle price of $16,138, freight of $2,105 and a discount of $742, bringing the total to $17,500.
The paperwork looked convincing, complete with a company logo, watermark, account manager, UK telephone number and London address. Shipping was to be arranged after payment.
On May 29, W.N. instructed Consolidated Bank of Kenya to transfer the full $17,500, equivalent to approximately Sh2.3 million, to a beneficiary identified in the banking records as Global International Limited through Barclays Bank UK PLC.
But the transfer confirmation established only that the payment had been processed. It did not establish that the vehicle had been purchased, inspected or shipped.
The red flags hidden in the paperwork
A closer examination of the documents revealed discrepancies that should have triggered further scrutiny before the money moved.
The invoice number ended in 19756, while the payment reference ended in 19754. The seller was identified as Global Int Ltd on the invoice but Global International Limited in the transfer records. The buyer’s name also appeared differently across the documents.
The invoice had fallen due on May 22, yet payment was made a week later without any documented confirmation that the vehicle remained available.
More troublingly, the buyer was expected to pay the full amount upfront, while the paperwork did not clearly require the seller to provide a bill of lading, export certificate or vessel details.
These inconsistencies do not, on their own, establish criminal intent. But together with the missing vehicle and absence of verifiable shipping evidence, they raise serious questions about the transaction.
COFEK reported that Global Int Ltd had not responded to the allegations by publication time.
A familiar trap for Kenyan buyers
The case comes amid wider concerns about vehicle-import fraud. In January 2026, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations sought Timothy Njeru Wanjuki, linked to East Africa Motors Limited, over separate alleged vehicle-import fraud cases in which clients reportedly lost money through undelivered vehicles, incomplete supplier payments and additional charges. The cases are distinct, but they illustrate the financial risks of trusting an importer without independently verifying the transaction.
For W.N., the immediate challenge is recovering the money. COFEK recommends seeking an urgent payment recall through the sending bank, notifying the receiving and intermediary banks, and reporting suspected fraud to Kenyan investigators and UK authorities.
The broader lesson is stark: a polished invoice, a foreign bank account and a professional-looking website are not proof that a car exists or that its seller can deliver it.
For Kenyans buying vehicles from abroad, verification must come before payment. Once millions of shillings cross borders, getting them back can become a race against time.
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