Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kenya have arrested Stephen Mugambi Colbert, a man accused of orchestrating a sophisticated fraud scheme that swindled a Nigerian national out of 150 million Naira (approximately Ksh 12.6 million).
According to a statement released by the DCI on Friday, January 24, Mugambi, along with his accomplices, posed as legitimate businessmen offering private jet services to transport unspecified investment funds from Kenya to Nigeria.
The DCI revealed that the fraudsters convinced the victim, a Nigerian national, that they had the means to hire a private jet for the transportation of the funds. However, this was all part of the fraudulent scheme, and the victim unknowingly made the payment.
Once the funds were sent, the victim was unable to reach Mugambi or his associates, leading him to realize that he had fallen victim to a scam. The Nigerian national then reported the incident to the DCI, prompting a thorough investigation and manhunt.
“Having burnt his fingers, the foreign national approached the DCI seeking help, leading to the launch of a manhunt that ultimately led to Mugambi’s arrest,” the DCI stated. While Mugambi’s accomplices narrowly escaped the dragnet, the DCI is confident that it is only a matter of time before they are captured and brought to justice.
In the aftermath of the arrest, the DCI has issued a public warning, urging citizens to remain vigilant, especially when dealing with large financial transactions or business offers that seem too good to be true.
“The DCI strongly warns that no efforts will be spared in dealing with fraudsters,” the statement read. “We caution the public to perform due diligence when engaging in such transactions to avoid losing their hard-earned money.”
Furthermore, the DCI raised concerns over an emerging trend where fraudsters have been using cryptocurrency as a method of exchange to avoid detection and operate outside the formal financial system.
This case serves as a stark reminder for individuals and businesses alike to be cautious when making significant financial transactions and to verify the legitimacy of offers before proceeding.
