On Tuesday, January 17, police officers arrested a suspect who was labeled among the most wanted persons accused of fraud. According to a statement issued by the National Police Service (NPS), the suspect was apprehended at Wilson Airport while he was waiting to board a plane. He was reportedly heading to Elwak, a town located near the border of Kenya and Somalia.
The NPS credited the public for providing crucial information that led to the timely arrest of the suspect. The suspect is suspected of defrauding the public of millions of shillings, as reported at the Nyanchwa Police Station in Kisii County.
This arrest comes after detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) apprehended three online scammers, including a third-year student at Kisii University, who were accused of stealing millions from unsuspecting Kenyans. Police revealed that a total of 22 SIM cards used in the fraudulent scheme were recovered from the student who was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
The three suspects were believed to have conducted their operations by advertising promotions of goods over the Christmas and New Year holidays, offering discounts on various household items. They also promised free delivery services to their customers who couldn’t pass on the deal.
The suspects directed their clients to make payments before the delivery of goods, sending them an invoice online for confirmation of the purchase. The criminals would then block the clients awaiting delivery.
The DCI urged Kenyans to be cautious while purchasing goods online to avoid falling victim to such scams. “DCI urges members of the public to be cautious while purchasing goods online and take time to ascertain the credibility of online shops purporting to offer certain services,” DCI announced.