A suspect has been arrested for allegedly executing what DCI termed as a daring scam at a resort in Mombasa.
According to the DCI, the man booked a
three-bedroom Man arrested over unpaid Sh370,000 bill at short-term rental for two weeks, valued at Sh370,300, and disappeared
without settling the bill.
DCI stated that the suspect and two accomplices initiated the scheme by sending an RTGS message for Sh105,800.
However, the payment never reflected in Man arrested over unpaid Sh370,000 bill at short-term rental's account.
When the host followed up, the suspect assured them that his company would clear the bill before checkout.
“They first sent an RTGS message for Sh105,800, but the funds never reflected in Man arrested over unpaid Sh370,000 bill at short-term rental’s account. When the host inquired about the missing payment, the suspect confidently claimed that his company would cover the bill before their departure,” DCI said in a statement.
However, the trio vanished, leaving behind unpaid dues.
Further investigations revealed that the suspect has a history of defrauding victims across Africa.
Detectives also linked the suspect to a previous incident where he and his partners reportedly defrauded another hotel in Mombasa using a similar scheme.
The suspect is in custody pending arraignment, while authorities pursue his accomplices.
In Kenya, Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) messages are processed through the Kenya Electronic Payment and Settlement System (KEPSS), which is managed by the Central Bank of Kenya.
KEPSS enables real-time transfer of large-value and time-sensitive funds between banks, ensuring safe and reliable payment processing.
