Kisii: Police hunt 2 women behind Ksh.94K Mpesa scam

A recent incident at Keumbu Market saw CCTV cameras capture two women “sweeping clean” an M-Pesa shop and vanishing with almost Ksh. 94,000 in just minutes.

Phone signal data later placed the suspects in Mulot.

On Sunday, 22 June, at around 11:18 a.m. CCTV footage captured a woman entering a cosmetics and M-Pesa shop along the busy Keumbu–Keroka road.

The woman, dressed in blue, appeared calm and ordinary. She was seen examining a brown purse.

Little did the shop assistant know that the lady was part of a bigger plot to sweep the shop clean.

It later emerged she had visited the shop days earlier to scout it out. She then returned while the regular owners were away, leaving their children to run the business.

CCTV footage shows her convincing a young girl to hand over a phone so she could “call her mother” for a discount.

While on the call, she saved a new contact under the name “Safaricom Official” and discreetly signaled a second woman waiting outside to call the number.

Shop owner Stella Bosibori recalls, “Aliuliza bei na kutaka kupewa discount. Alipoletewa simu, alisave number 0722000000 ambao ni Safaricom,” said Bosibori.

Using the saved number, the fraudsters then called and persuaded the young girl to transfer funds to "increase the M-Pesa business float."

CCTV later shows a second woman, wearing brown trousers, entering briefly. The two exchange discreet hand signals, swap a bag, and leave.

By the time they exited, the shop had been robbed of Ksh. 93,965.

Her husband, Charles Kambaga, says the two women returned on Friday asking for “vibeti” (handbags) before disappearing again.

CCTV still images reveal the face of the woman in blue. Phone signal data later placed one suspect in Mulot and another in Nairobi’s Kahawa West.

Shop owner Stella Bosibori appealed for help,

“Mimi naomba yeyote ambaye anaweza tambua sura hiyo, atujulishe,” she said.

Charles Kambaga added, "Tunaomba watu wawe macho sana. Wanazunguka Kenya mzima, ni tupinge huu wizi.”

Those who’ve previously fallen victim are warning that fraudsters may pose as ordinary customers before sweeping accounts dry in a twinkle.