RIB spokesperson, Dr. Murangira B. Thierry, stated that these individuals, aged between 20 and 35 years, were apprehended at different times.
The spokesperson said, the individuals used deceptive tactics, including SIM swaps, to steal from their victims. They worked in groups, collaborating with agents from various telecommunications companies who helped them quickly withdraw the stolen funds.
The suspected fraudsters, who referred to themselves as 'Abameni,' would first meet at a specific location to plan their day's criminal activities before spreading out to different areas.
Before their arrest, thorough investigations were conducted to understand their methods, allowing the authorities to capture them all at once. They are now detained at various RIB stations.
They face five charges, including forming or joining a criminal gang, obtaining property through deceit, impersonation, failing to explain the source of their wealth, and money laundering. These crimes carry sentences ranging from two to ten years in prison.
Dr. Murangira said, "In the seven months leading up to July 2024, they had stolen 424,493,991 Rwandan Francs. It is the the victims who reported the crimes. The stolen money was often used for various activities, including buying houses for their parents, which is why some parents were reluctant to cooperate with us in apprehending them."
In addition to Rusizi, arrests were also made in the districts of Gicumbi, Ruhango, Gasabo, Rubavu, Nyarugenge, Kirehe, and Muhanga.
Dr. Murangira explained that these crimes could be prevented, as scammers often prey on people's emotions by impersonating officials or representatives from various organizations, luring victims into entering codes under the guise of offering services, only for the victims to lose their money.
He added, "For example, someone might call and say, 'This is your child's school, and we're notifying you that they've been in an accident.' Then they'll hang up, and another person will call, claiming to be from a hospital, addressing you by name, and asking for money for your child's treatment. In your panic, without thinking, you send the money, only to realize later that you've been scammed."
Rwanda National Police spokesperson, ACP Boniface Rutikanga, revealed that the thieves impersonated various entities, including government agencies, private sector companies, and religious institutions.
He noted that while some victims were deceived, others contributed to their own losses by attempting to offer bribes for services they should have received for free.
For instance, at driving test centers, thieves would approach individuals who had failed the test, promising to help them retake a special exam. The conmen would then steal the victim's phone number and send a fake message notifying them of a new test date, after which they would ask for money to provide the service. The victim, realizing too late, would discover that their money had been stolen.
ACP Rutikanga said, "When the victim arrives at the test center, they realize they were scammed. Such individuals won't admit to being robbed, and even if you call them, they won't show up because they know they were involved in offering a bribe."
The Head of Technology at the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), Charles Gahungu stated that their investigations revealed that the thieves were aided by the use of unregistered SIM cards, which allowed them to operate anonymously.
He explained that authorities had identified loopholes exploited by the fraudsters, which led to the ban on registering SIM cards on the street.
IGIHE
