DCI: Be wary of fake mobile telcom sales agents in Nairobi CBD

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has warned Kenyans to be on the lookout for ‘fake’ sales agents operating in the Nairobi central business district.

According to the DCI, the ‘well organized’ syndicate consists of young men and women who pose as sales agents of a renown mobile telecommunication company.

“The DCI is in receipt of numerous complaints from members of the public who report to have fallen victim of a suspected fraud syndicate,” the DCI said on Twitter.

They are reported to be operating from a vehicle behind Kenya Archives on Tom Mboya Street.

The DCI said they have been posing as genuine marketers of unreasonably cheap smart phones, iPads, tablets and other flashy electronic products.

The fraudsters are also said to be purporting to assist clients in upgrading their sim cards to 5G network.

“Once they have the full attention of an unsuspecting would be buyer, they access the victim’s mobile money transfer pin and other mobile banking details, after which they transfer money from the victims’ accounts to unknown accounts,” said the DCI.

Whereas detectives and general duty police officers have previously arrested the fraudsters after receiving complaints from victims, the DCI said the victims hardly show up at the police stations or DCI offices to file formal reports, thus weakening the evidential aspect upon arraignment of the suspects.

The DCI has appealed to members of the public who may have been hoodwinked by the fraudsters to report at DCI Headquarters’ Serious Crime Unit and formally report their experiences with the syndicate for necessary police action to be initiated.

“We thank the members of public who continue to share intelligence information through our DCI hotline 0800 722 203. This is a toll-free number where calls are made confidentially, with the caller remaining anonymous in that neither their names nor phone numbers are displayed,” the DCI said.