Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) on Tuesday, September 17, paraded six individuals suspected of stealing cars in different parts of the country. The suspects, all men aged between 26 and 39, had allegedly stolen four cars which have since been retrieved by RIB and returned to their owners. According to RIB, they were apprehended following numerous complaints by car owners who had rented out their vehicles to them, only to discover that they had vanished with them. ALSO READ: Traders warned of fraudsters as new racket is busted In a press conference held on Tuesday, RIB Spokesperson Thierry Murangira said the group used a variety of fraudulent techniques to carry out their criminal activities, and each of the individuals played a specific role. He noted that some members of the gang were responsible for generating forged documents needed to hire the vehicles in question, while others were assigned the task of approaching car rental companies to get the vehicles, using false identities. The gang also had individuals tasked with selling the stolen vehicles, and then transporting them to various parts of the country. Some of the stolen cars were apprehended in Nyamagabe, Kayonza, and Gicumbi districts. ALSO READ: What tricks do mobile money fraudsters use to scam Rwandans? Olivier Seneza, one of the individuals whose car was recovered, recounted his experience with the fraudulent rental. He initially felt reassured when they not only promised to return the car after five days but also provided an extra Rwf100,000 for any potential speed camera fines or charges. However, as the return date approached, they stopped answering his calls, and he soon discovered that his car lacked a GPS tracker. When renting out a car, it's crucial to carefully verify the ID of the person who has taken it. I trusted their documents, but their sudden disappearance made me worry that the car had been involved in an accident and was being hidden. It wasn't until two weeks later that RIB contacted me to return the car, and I was immensely grateful for their persistence and effort, he said. Murangira urged the public to exercise caution when renting out or purchasing vehicles. He emphasized the importance of conducting thorough research on anyone involved in such businesses. Always verify the credentials and background of individuals you are dealing with. Doing proper due diligence can prevent falling victim to scams and fraudulent activities, and always make sure you have your GPS on in your vehicle.
