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| Suspected fraudster, Charles Kuria Kamau |
A suspected fraudster, Charles Kuria Kamau, 30, has been arrested by detectives from Starehe following a meticulous investigation into a theft case involving a locked motor vehicle. The suspect, who was wanted in connection with the theft reported on January 3, was apprehended after police traced him to his residence in Hilton Estate, Ruiru Township.
During a search of Kuria’s house, detectives recovered 96 original Kenyan national IDs, which belonged to various citizens, as well as 10 dummy foldable Samsung phones, several SIM card plates, and other items suspected to be linked to criminal activity.
According to detectives, Kuria had been using the stolen national IDs to create multiple accounts on Jiji, an online marketplace. He allegedly swindled unsuspecting buyers by advertising genuine foldable Samsung phones for sale, only to swap the real phones with the counterfeit dummy versions. By the time victims realized they had been conned and reported the crime, Kuria had successfully covered his tracks, as investigations led to the legitimate ID holders who were unaware their IDs had been stolen.
Kuria was taken into custody and is currently being held at Ruaraka Police Station, where he is facing charges of fraud and theft. Investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Starehe are handling the case and have urged other potential victims to come forward. "We believe there are more complainants out there who may have fallen prey to this scam," said one of the investigating officers. "We encourage anyone who may have been duped by the suspect to report to the station and record their statements."
The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing fight against online fraud and identity theft, with detectives working diligently to bring more criminals involved in similar schemes to justice. Authorities have also warned the public to remain vigilant when engaging in online transactions and to ensure they are dealing with verified and trustworthy sellers.
Kuria’s arrest serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding personal information and reporting any suspicious activities to the authorities promptly.