Five suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with an online fraud scheme in which a woman lost KSh742,000 while attempting to purchase 1,400 bags of cement from a fraudulent website impersonating Bamburi Cement PLC.
The incident dates back to August 2025, when the woman, who was sourcing cement for a family construction project in Ruiru, came across a website purporting to represent the cement manufacturer.
Believing she was dealing with the legitimate company, she contacted a telephone number provided on the website and was directed to WhatsApp, where negotiations for the purchase were conducted.
The suspects allegedly offered the cement at KSh530 per bag, translating to KSh742,000 for the 1,400 bags.
The woman was subsequently issued with an invoice demanding full payment through Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) to a local bank account purportedly registered in the name of Bamburi Cement Limited.
On August 23, 2025, the complainant transferred the entire amount, expecting the cement to be delivered to her construction site.
However, the consignment never arrived. Her subsequent attempts to contact the purported supplier were unsuccessful, raising suspicions that she had been conned.
She later contacted Bamburi Cement PLC to establish the status of her order, only to discover that the company had no knowledge of the transaction or the purported sale.
She subsequently reported the matter to the police, prompting investigations into the fraudulent transaction.
Investigations by detectives established that the website, telephone number and invoice used to facilitate the transaction were fraudulent and had no authorisation or affiliation with Bamburi Cement PLC.
Further financial investigations traced the money from a bank account operated by Florence Atieno Okoth to another account operated by Emmanuel Wekesa, alias Brian Mulumba.
Detectives established that the funds were subsequently withdrawn through several ATM transactions in Kitengela Town, as investigations sought to establish the individuals involved in the movement and withdrawal of the stolen money.
Following an intelligence-led operation conducted in Uasin Gishu and Nairobi counties, detectives arrested five suspects believed to be connected to the fraudulent scheme.
The suspects were identified as Florence Atieno Okoth, Dickson Alalwa Mabati, Kevin Ongaya Were, Kelvin Kibet Keter and Emmanuel Wekesa, alias Brian Mulumba.
The five suspects have since been arraigned in court and charged in connection with the alleged fraud.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has cautioned members of the public against falling victim to online shopping scams, particularly fraudulent websites and social media accounts impersonating established companies and reputable suppliers.
Prospective buyers have been urged to independently verify the authenticity of websites, sellers, invoices and payment details before transferring money for goods or services.
The DCI has also advised consumers to confirm payment instructions directly with companies through their verified communication channels rather than relying solely on contact details provided by online sellers.
The case highlights the growing threat posed by cyber-enabled financial fraud, in which unsuspecting consumers are lured into making payments through platforms designed to imitate legitimate businesses.
The Directorate has reiterated its commitment to investigating online fraud, pursuing individuals involved in organised financial crimes and dismantling criminal networks targeting members of the public through digital platforms.
