DCI Busts Two in Ksh 1.1M Fake Vehicle Deal
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has apprehended two fraudsters involved in a vehicle importation scam that saw a Kenyan lose Ksh 1.1 million.
In a statement released on Saturday, March 15, detectives disclosed that the duo had been operating a sham dealership scheme before their eventual arrest.
“Detectives from DCI Kilimani have nabbed two crafty fraudsters accused of swindling a Kenyan out of Ksh 1.1 million in a sham vehicle importation scam,” the statement read.
Three-Year Con Unraveled
Investigations revealed that the scheme dated back to May 27, 2022, when one of the fraudsters posed as a sales agent at a Nairobi-based vehicle dealership. He convinced his victim that he could import two vehicles—a Toyota Probox Extra and a 14-seater Toyota Hiace 7L—at a combined price of Ksh 2.9 million.
Trusting the offer, the victim wired a deposit of Ksh 1.1 million, only for the supposed dealer to disappear without delivering the vehicles.
Following forensic intelligence, detectives tracked the main suspect to his apartment hideout, where they recovered multiple SIM cards linked to the scam. Further probes led them to his accomplice in Makongeni, Thika, where they found a SIM card linked to a Ksh 550,000 transaction from the victim.
Growing Trend of High-Stake Scams
This arrest comes just days after the DCI nabbed two other fraudsters behind a Ksh 22 million edible oil scam. In that case, the con artists tricked five businessmen into investing in a fictitious World Food Program (WFP) tender to supply edible oil to Kakuma Refugee Camp.
Authorities have urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and verify transactions before making financial commitments to avoid falling victim to such fraudulent schemes.
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DCI Busts Two in Ksh 1.1M Fake Vehicle Deal
