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The new face of crime: Con artists are now new crime kings

new face of crime
 Photo:Courtesy

Criminals have gradually changed tactics, engaging more in white collar crimes than violent robberies.

And women, as opposed to men, are the masterminds of these crimes, planned and executed in city’s upmarket offices and estates.

The new trend has almost dwarfed the work of police elite squads like the Flying Squad that were, in the wake of frequent violent robberies, formed to infiltrate and dismantle the dangerous networks.

The use of the gun and brawn is no longer fashionable.

Instead, cyber crime, fraud, pyramid schemes, forgery, money laundering, insider trading and copyright infringement are the tools of trade preferred by today’s ‘digital’ criminals.

Women are the chief architects, making Flying Squad officers, more at home with blazing guns, fully occupied, trying to crack computer encryption codes and combing through documents in search of the increasingly elusive evidence.

The Nairobian is in possession of seven names and photos of women, who include the ‘wife’ of a senior government official, accused of obtaining money through false pretences.

Described as wealthy, flashy and living on the first lane, these women pose as well-connected entrepreneurs with vast knowledge and connections in real estate, import/export, manufacturing and public sectors.

They exploit their deceivingly good looks to prey on unsuspecting victims, with men easily falling into their traps, only to discover later that they have been conned.

“Men have a weakness especially when a challenge is thrown their way by the opposite sex. They have so much trust in women driving sleek cars and living in posh homes,” said a detective.

Head of Flying Squad, Saidi Mohamed, admitted that they are investigating so many cases involving cyber crime and fraud. The senior officer however did not wish to shed more light on the cases, saying he is not allowed.

In January 2015, his officers arrested two suspects in connection with hacking into NIC Bank’s database. Alex Mutungi Mutuku and Stanley Kimeu Mutua were seized from their Kitui County hideout after being tracked for weeks by Flying Squad officers.

They were reportedly demanding from the bank 200 bitcoins (Sh6.2 million), failure of which they threatened to make public NIC’s client confidential financial information in their possession. The matter is in court and hearing is set for January 27.

Bitcoin is an online payment system used by peers, mostly in the banking industry.

The ‘wife’ of the government official allegedly conned gullible parents and guardians about Sh4 million, pretending she would use her husband’s influence to secure employment for their children in a state agency.

She also demanded Sh200,000 from each person ahead of the March 2014 recruitment exercise. Her intermediary, a female civil servant, is now in trouble after the victims threatened to take action after the deal fell through.

She was forced to sell part of her property to refund some of the complainants. Meanwhile, it is understood the woman does not want the husband to know of the scam, fearing it could cost him his job if it becomes public knowledge.

Another alleged female fraudster operates a recruitment agency along Lenana Road. Apparently, she demands Sh250,000 to secure employment abroad, especially in the USA, where she reportedly has close relatives with whom she works.

When we contacted her, she dismissed the allegations, claiming people were out to tarnish her name and demanded to be given names of the complainants. She added that she had quit the recruitment agency and was now based in Mombasa dealing in motor vehicles.

“People just want to malign my name. In fact I left that business long time ago in November last year after the government cancelled our licences. However, just give me one or two names of those complaining so that I may be in a position to explain. It might be true or wrong,” she said, contradicting herself in the process.

On September 29, 2014, Labour Cabinet Secretary, Kazungu Kambi, revoked permits of agencies recruiting Kenyans to work in the Gulf region and the Middle East. This was a response to the mushrooming of briefcase agencies. About 930 firms were affected and ordered to undergo rigorous vetting before being issued with new licences.

The third woman whose accomplices include an Asian man is armed with fake Local Purchase Orders (LPOs) which she uses to lure gullible Kenyans. The cartel targets victims in high-end bars, who are bought drinks as inducement.

After creating the rapport, the tricksters then pull out an LPO and request for financial assistance, explaining that they did not have enough cash to supply required goods. Those who fall prey are swindled.

“Sometimes this woman can take you to her house. The moment you get inside the house and having ensured she is in possession of your car keys, she will resort to blackmail, demanding a certain amount of money, or else she takes compromising pictures and posts them on social media,” said our source.

But when contacted, the script was almost the same –  ‘someone out to malign my name.’ The woman, while admitting the Asian man was a business partner, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that she was aware of only one case involving a complainant who has since refused to meet the police.

“I told that person that we meet at Nairobi Area police headquarters but she refused. The law is very clear that if you have a complaint, you have to report it to the police, but she has refused despite numerous reminders,” stated the woman.

On February 24, 2015, her Asian partner was at the Nairobi County CID headquarters over a fraud case involving the personal assistant of an MP from Narok County. He had been accused of obtaining Sh1.2 million from the aide as well as Sh200 million from traders in Mombasa.

“I don’t know about the Sh200 million, but it is true I took Sh1.2 million from the MP, he is even here (CID Nairobi) and has already received Sh500,000 refund,” said the suspect who claimed he allegedly got the money to supply chemicals for making fake currency.

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