Detectives are holding a fraud suspect who was found with 96 original Kenya national IDs belonging to different citizens, 10 dummy foldable Samsung phones, several sim card plates among other suspected stolen items.
Police said the Thursday arrest of the suspect followed days of his hunt in a case of stealing from a locked motor vehicle reported on January 3 in Pangani area, Nairobi.
The suspect was arrested at his house in Ruiru, Kiambu County where the items were recovered.
He was traced to his house within Hilton Estate of Ruiru township, where a search was conducted leading to the recoveries.
On interrogation, detectives established that the suspect had been using the national IDs to register multiple online accounts, which he then used to swindle unsuspecting Kenyans by pretending to be in a position to sell them genuine foldable Samsung phones, only to swap them with the dummies.
By the time victims realize they have been conned and report to the police, the suspect’s tracks are far from any criminality as investigations lead to the bearers of the lost or stolen IDs used in the registration.
The investigators believe more complainants who fell for the suspect's machinations are out there, and are being called upon to report at the station to record their statements.
The suspect was detained at Ruaraka cells pending a probe and other procedures.
Police say cases of online fraud are on the rise amid operations to address the menace.
Most of the fraudsters target unsuspecting bank account holders.
Others use mobile phones to con their targets. Government agencies have been taking measures to address the menace, which has led to the arrest of dozens of suspects.
Some of the cases are pending before courts while others are under probe, police say.
