Six individuals linked to a sophisticated caller ID spoofing fraud scheme have been arrested in Mombasa following a targeted operation aimed at dismantling a cybercrime ring responsible for swindling unsuspecting victims out of millions.
The arrests were made in Nyali, Mombasa County, where the suspects had converted a short-stay home apartment into their operational hub. The group allegedly used advanced caller ID spoofing applications to impersonate customer care agents from well-known banks and telecommunications companies. This allowed them to manipulate phone numbers to make calls appear as though they were coming from legitimate service providers, thereby gaining the trust of their victims.
The suspects, identified as Fortune Muthina Kinyanzui (alias Albanas Kyalo), Ruel Kipkoech Yator (alias Papa Ruel), Laban Kipkirui Koech, Weldon Kipyegon Rono, Towet Kipkorir Alphonce, and Kelvin Kipyegon Koech, were apprehended in a sting operation that began on May 31. The operation was intelligence-led and aimed at dismantling a network of cybercriminals exploiting caller ID spoofing technology to commit financial fraud.
Investigations revealed that the group was engaged in a well-orchestrated social engineering scam. By posing as customer service representatives, they created panic and urgency in their targets, tricking them into disclosing sensitive personal data such as ATM PINs and bank account information. Once this information was obtained, the suspects would transfer large sums of money into accounts they controlled.
At the center of the scheme was the suspected mastermind, Fortune Muthina. He is believed to have acquired the spoofing software used in the operation for over Ksh500,000. The application enabled the team to disguise their identity, replicate legitimate call center numbers, and manipulate victims through psychological tactics. The app reportedly required a unique configuration and an assigned IP address, allowing the fraudsters to use it effectively to execute their crimes.
The apartment raided during the operation identified as APA Apartments House No. B2, located on 1st Avenue in Nyali had been repurposed into a fully functional cyber fraud station. It served both as a training center for recruits and as the central base from which fraudulent calls were made.
Items recovered from the premises included 19 assorted mobile phones, numerous SIM cards and SIM card holders from various networks (including Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom, and MTN Uganda), and a notebook believed to contain records of potential or past victims.
Following their arrest, the six suspects were arraigned at the Kahawa Law Courts on June 3, where authorities requested additional time to complete investigations. They are currently being held at Capitol Hill Police Station as inquiries continue.
Officials have urged anyone who may have fallen victim to similar scams to report to the nearest police station and maintain contact with investigative officers for updates and guidance. The operation highlights the increasing threat posed by cybercriminals and underscores the importance of public vigilance and cooperation in tackling digital fraud.
