Police break Mpesa fraudsters’ cartel, arrest seven in Eldoret

Some of the Mpesa fraudsters arrested in Eldoret town on March 28, 2017. PHOTO | GERALD BWISA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The suspects identified as Kelvin Kipkorir Bett, Amos Kipkirui Koech, Gilbert Too Kipngetich, Kibet Mutai Phinius, Michael Kiprono Kipkoech, Kipngano Lagat Titus and Boaz Cheruiyot Koech were arrested along Oloo Street in Eldoret town on Tuesday evening.
  • The police tracked the mobile numbers used to call the customers and arrested two suspects who later led the officers to their hideout in Action Estate in Eldoret town.

Seven suspected Mpesa fraudsters posing as Safaricom customer care agents have been arrested in Eldoret town.

The suspects identified as Kelvin Kipkorir Bett, Amos Kipkirui Koech, Gilbert Too Kipngetich, Kibet Mutai Phinius, Michael Kiprono Kipkoech, Kipngano Lagat Titus and Boaz Cheruiyot Koech were arrested along Oloo Street in Eldoret town on Tuesday evening.

According to the police, the suspects have been conning people in Eldoret, Nairobi and Bomet by calling and asking them for their Mpesa details including their Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) and would immediately withdraw money in their accounts once they got them.

Police received a tip from a member of the public who informed them of the suspects’ scheme.

“There was a complaint from a member of the public that there were some individuals who were posing as Safaricom agents and conning people,” said Eldoret West police OCPD Samuel Mutunga.

The police tracked the mobile numbers used to call the customers and arrested two suspects who later led the officers to their hideout in Action Estate in Eldoret town.

“We arrested five more suspects in their hideout and recovered new and old sim cards, a laptop and several mobile phones,” explained Mr Mutunda on Wednesday.

The suspects were arraigned in court but the police requested the Eldoret law court five more days to carry out more investigations on the conning cartel.

The police said it was a big breakthrough following many complaints from members of the public.

“This is a massive fraud that has been ongoing for a long time and the suspects have revealed to us that there could be more big fish behind the scam so we have requested the court to grant us five more days for further investigation,” Mr Mutunda added saying that the suspects were being held at Eldoret Central Police Station.

The police said the suspects had already pocketed over Sh800, 000 in the past six months from unsuspecting members of the public.

Last year, a businesswoman in Eldoret lost over Sh60, 000 after falling prey to the Mpesa fraudsters.