Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) on Monday, September 9, announced the arrest of 45 individuals suspected of orchestrating mobile money scams targeting numerous members of the public.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 35, operated across the country and were apprehended after coordinated efforts between RIB and the Rwanda National Police (RNP), sparked by a surge in public complaints.

At a press conference on Monday, RIB Spokesperson Thierry Murangira revealed that 43 of the suspects worked as part of a well-organised syndicate. Each member played a specific role in defrauding their victims. Collectively, they had swindled over Rwf 424 million, he said.

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The suspects are charged with fraud, formation of or joining a criminal association, illicit enrichment among others crimes.

A common tactic they used involved a scammer who would call people posing as a Good Samaritan who was taking their son or daughter to the hospital after they had been "involved in a terrible accident.”

The scammer would call a random phone number or send a message, informing the owner that their child was involved in an accident.

The fraudster would then ask for money for an alleged emergency at the hospital. A second scammer would then act as a doctor at the hospital, confirming the accident and the child’s need for urgent medical attention.

"Many people who have school-going children would send the money swiftly and realise later that they had been conned when they call the school administration to ask for information,” Murangira said.

Conning people seeking driving permits

RNP Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga, noted that some of the arrested suspects had been conning individuals seeking driving permits, telling them that they needed to pay a bribe to them so that they could expedite the process.

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Both RIB and RNP urged the public to remain vigilant and cautious when receiving calls or messages from unknown numbers, especially if asked to send money or follow specific instructions regarding their mobile devices.

Charles Gahungu, the General Manager of ICT Regulation in Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) advised the public to protect themselves from SIM card fraud by making use of the available options to check all phone numbers registered under their IDs or passports.

He advised that if they find some that they are not using, they should deactivate them, to prevent any involvement in criminal activities.