Three Kenyan frauds who worked together to clone Jumia online retail store and managed to defraud Kenyans’ money amounting to millions have finally been apprehended.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the cyber criminals who were arrested over the weekend falsely obtained money from unsuspecting members of the public by operating fictitious online platforms purporting to sell goods.They had cloned Jumia’s websites and all social media accounts.
The criminals identified as Dickson Magembe, Dionicious Omonyi and Derrick Kodek were nabbed by sleuths attached to the DCI headquarters, the elite Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau wing.
Their arrest came after several Kenyans complained to the DCI over the operation of the suspicious Twitter, Facebook and website accounts being run by the three.
“The trio are believed to have obtained millions of shillings from unsuspecting shoppers, by operating fake accounts imitating popular JUMIA online stores,” the DCI said.
According to the DCI, the three ran a fake Facebook page called Jumia Shopping through which they offered discounts of up to 40 percent for various household goods during the recently concluded festive season.
“An MPESA till number where cash deposits would be made before delivery of goods was provided and upon successful payment, an invoice would be sent via WhatsApp promising free delivery within 24 hours,” the DCI said.
Immediately the money was paid, the client would be blocked from social media. Such a victim is one civilian from Mukothima in Tharaka North Sub County, Tharaka Nithi county who paid Sh95,000 for a seven-seated recliner seat and a coffee table.
The victim made payments after an offer was made on the fake Facebook page announcing the discount for the recliner seat and other household items.
“Tens of other Kenyans who found the deals too good to think twice fell for the trap hook line and sinker, after hurriedly making orders before getting thoroughly disappointed later,” the DCI said in his statement.
During the arrest, police managed to recover a total of 22 sim cards that were being used in the fraud. The first suspect to be picked was a third-year student at Kisii University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, who later led detectives to his two other accomplices in Ruiru, Kiambu county.