Safaricom lost Sh500 million to con artists who targeted the Fuliza mobile lending facility, according to detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday.
Eight people were detained following a protracted investigation that lasted more than a year. Detectives found that the lived a lavish lifestyle.
DCI reported that while the alleged mastermind, Peter Gitahi, was captured by investigators in Kitale, Trans-Nzoia County, Isaack Kipkemoi, Gideon Rono, Maxwell Ributhu, Gideon Kirui, Moses Rono, Collins Kipyegon, and Edwin Cheruiyot, all between the ages of 24 and 30, were all detained at an apartment in Kiamunyi, Nakuru County.
The suspects were discovered to be in possession of at least four vehicles, including two motorcycles, at the time of their arrest.
The DCI noted that the strategy allowed the suspects to purchase two brand-new Subarus, one Toyota Mark X, a Toyota Probox, and two motorbikes that have since been seized.
One of the vehicles costs Sh3.6 million on the open market as a 2020 Toyota Mark X, while a Subaru Forester XT costs Sh3.2 million.
In addition, the police seized 14 mobicom phones used to register MPESA user SIM cards, six laptops, more than forty mobile phones, seven routers, various Safaricom lines, more than 1000 registration forms for Safaricom subscribers, more than 200 ATM cards from all major banks, car agreements, and other items.
Fuliza is a mobile overdraft service by Safaricom where customers can complete their M-Pesa transactions even when they do not have enough funds in their M-Pesa account.
