Detectives arrest 3 suspected Mpesa fraudsters in Samburu

Three people were detained on suspicion of being Mpesa fraudsters on Friday: two women and one man.

The three were apprehended at the Archer’s Post in Samuburu county, according to a police report from the DCI.

“It is a relief for mobile money operators in Isiolo and its environs after two women and a middle-aged man suspected to have been defrauding them of their hard-earned cash were yesterday nabbed by detectives,” the DCI said on Saturday.

Mary Wangari Hinga, 32, and Samwel Maina Ndirangu, 36, both from Utawala, were detained, as was their counterpart Josephine Chesang Tanui, 31, from Nakuru.

Detectives started probe on the matter following numerous reports of Mpesa fraud in the county.

Many of the victims of the accused, according to the cops, were on the verge of closing their businesses.

“The suspects approached mobile money operators as dealers in pretext of selling SIM cards & other products at discounted prices and in the process switched the phones used to effect money transactions before flushing their float,” the DCI explained

The three are suspected of operating out of a Toyota Vitz, which was seized during the arrests.

Detectives also recovered several SIM cards from the three.