The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sleuths have arrested a man who has been conning Kenyans through Facebook for years now.
According to DCI, Justin Mwirigi Murungi’s had recently conned Robert Isiche Mzee from Nairobi’s Langata Ksh.354,000 for 60 cylinders of cooking gas.
DCI said Mzee got in touch with the con artist on Facebook.
Mzee had made some savings and was brainstorming on the best business to invest his hard-earned money. After much deliberations, he settled on setting up a gas vending business within Kamulu area.
The page which goes by the name Heritage Gas Wholesalers had information detailing the business as dealing with gas cylinders, with several brands of cooking gas displayed. The page also had a contact number and the contact person’s name given as Kelvin Mwangi.
“It was in November last year while he was shopping online for a place to source the cylinders when he came across a Facebook page advertising the exact business.The page which goes by the name Heritage Gas Wholesalers had information detailing the business as dealing with gas cylinders, with several brands of cooking gas displayed,” stated the DCI.
The conman sent a quotation and requested Mzee to pay a commitment fee of Ksh.118,000 for the processing to be fast-tracked. After brief negotiations, he accepted to waive the commitment fee to Ksh.100,000.
Mzee transferred Ksh.100,000 via M-pesa mobile money transfer to the con’s number. He was to be paid the rest of the money upon delivery of the cylinders.
“The agreement was sealed, despite the fact that Mzee had no clue of who was behind the Facebook page or how he looked like. On the 3rd day of December, 2021, Mzee transferred 100,000 shillings via M-pesa mobile money transfer to the con’s number.”
Mzee realized he had been conned when he made calls for the supplies but the suspect started making excuses and finally failed to pick up his calls.
Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau-CRIB applied detailed forensic analysis at the DCI National Forensic Laboratory and traced Justin Mwirigi Murungi who was immediately arrested within Thika Township, Kiambu County.
Murungi appeared before court Monday and was charged with conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretense.
