19 suspected Nigerians online fraudsters arrested in Nairobi

- Kenyan anti crime agency has arrested 19 Nigerians suspected to be behind online fraud in Nairobi
- The suspects were said to initiate online fraud by befriending unsuspecting Kenyans on social media
- It was gathered that once the unsuspecting Kenyans become comfortable with the friendship, the Nigerians would promise to send them gifts through DHL
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nairobi, the headquarters of Kenya, on Saturday morning, August 18, arrested suspected 19 Nigerian nationals believed to be behind online fraud in the city.
It was gathered that the suspects were reported to be using social media to defraud unsuspecting Kenyans.
According to a brief statement issued by the DCI on its Facebook page, the suspects live in Nairobi's Roysambu, Umoja and Kasarani estates.
The statement read: "Nineteen Nigerian citizens residing in Umoja, Kasarani and Roysambu estates within Nairobi have this morning been arrested for engaging in electronic fraud targeting Kenyans."
While giving a blow by blow account of how the Nigerians carry out their conning, DCI said they started by befriending Kenyans on social media, mostly on Facebook.
It said that after initiating the friendship, they later on pick up friendly chats with them.
Once the unsuspecting Kenyans become comfortable with the friendship, the Nigerians promise to send them gifts through DHL to be picked at the airport.
"The following day a call will be made and someone will pretend to be an attendant at the DHL office. They will tell the victim to pay clearance fees for the same parcel they claim to have sent you,"
explained the DCI.
"Immediately the money is sent through Mpesa, the gang will make another call requesting for some extra money for other documentation and taxes."
"That’s the time you realize that you have been conned. This is therefore to warn members of the general public against such fraudsters," the DCI said.