Ndudi Anyim
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is cautioning young ladies on social media, to be wary of fraudsters who prey on them with promises of good life abroad, but end up swindling them of their hard earned money.
This advise comes as DCI operatives in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, became alarmed due to the influx of young ladies who throng the country’s international gateway, ostensibly to collect gifts that have been sent by their online ‘suitors.’
Security Watch Africa (SWA), however, learnt that upon arrival they are shocked to realise that they have been conned and no such packages exist.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the fraudsters who masquerade as successful businessmen with their social media timelines teeming with photos of their supposed flashy lifestyles, prey on young ladies whom they promise blissful lives abroad and offer to send them expensive gifts to demonstrate their seriousness.
The DCI said: “In one such instance, a 28-year-old lady met a man online who claimed to be living in Britain. After days of communicating online, the man told the lady that as proof of his undying affection, he had sent her some necklaces made of gold and other assorted jewelry.
“She later received a call from a man who identified himself as a customs agent based at JKIA and had received her shipment from abroad. She was asked to pay the landing fee for the package & facilitate its clearance at a total cost of Sh52,000 then go & collect it.
“However, upon arrival at the airport, the supposed agent’s phone, went unanswered. Detectives based at the airport have in recent months received many such reports where young ladies have lost money to fraudsters, with preliminary investigations indicating that
the miscreants mainly operate from Kisumu and Kiambu.”
It further stated that while operatives work round the clock to bring the suspects to book, young ladies are advised to be wary of such fraudsters who may end up tricking them into more dangerous situations, some of which may cost them their lives.