DCI Uncovers Online Syndicate Posing as Interior PS to Scam Kenyans
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has revealed the existence of a well-coordinated online fraud scheme, where tech-savvy criminals have been impersonating senior government officials on social media platforms to steal from innocent Kenyans.
This shocking discovery came to light after two suspects were arraigned at the Kahawa Law Courts. They are accused of managing fake social media accounts, including one pretending to be the official page of Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo.
In a detailed statement released on Tuesday, April 15, the DCI explained how these fraudsters operate.
They begin by creating social media profiles that appear genuine, copying the names, photos, and details of high-profile government officials.
With these fake accounts, they reach out to unsuspecting members of the public, promising things like government jobs, lucrative tenders, or special favours—often in exchange for money or sensitive personal details.
The DCI further disclosed that one of the suspects is a university student. He and his accomplice were arrested in two separate locations within Bungoma County—Tuuti and Namachanja.
Investigations showed that the student had not only created multiple fake accounts but also trained others on how to use them for fraud.
Once trained, these individuals would buy the accounts and use them to continue scamming Kenyans, thereby growing the syndicate.
“In the case brought before court, one of the suspects had been actively impersonating PS Interior, Dr. Raymond Omollo,” the DCI noted.
More disturbingly, the authorities revealed that this scam isn’t limited to just the two suspects. The two are part of a much larger network of fraudsters, many of whom are recruited and trained before being sold fake accounts to continue the criminal operations.
Their actions violated Section 28 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, which prohibits the unauthorised creation and registration of domain names, social media handles, and other online accounts that resemble the names of prominent individuals, businesses, or trademarks.
The suspects were each granted a cash bail of Ksh35,000, and their case is scheduled for another hearing on April 28.
This case comes just days after the DCI also reported the arrest of a land fraudster who is believed to have tricked a woman into paying Ksh12 million for a piece of land in Garissa that he didn’t actually own.
According to the investigators, the 44-year-old suspect sold the land under false pretences, and when the woman tried to follow up, records from the Garissa Lands Registry showed that the land belonged to someone else. The man was later arrested by detectives from Kilimani Police Station.
These incidents serve as a reminder of the growing threat of cybercrime in Kenya, especially as scammers continue to exploit the trust that citizens have in government institutions and officials.
The DCI has urged the public to be cautious when dealing with anyone online who claims to offer official services or favours in exchange for money.
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