Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has arrested three men suspected of orchestrating a fraud scheme against multiple fuel stations across the country, stealing over Rwf 17 million in total.

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In a statement released on Wednesday, November 12, RIB said the suspects: Straton Nsabimana, identified as the ringleader, along with Vincent Ntagwabira and Paul Mwesigye, were apprehended following a series of complaints from affected fuel stations.

The thefts were carried out targeted fuel stations in Kigali, Nyagatare, Muhanga, Nyabihu, and Huye.

Investigations revealed that the trio would arrive at fuel stations pretending to purchase fuel through mobile money (MoMo) payments. After receiving fuel, they would deliberately send a smaller amount than required. When the pump attendant would notice the discrepancy and alert them, the suspects would ask him or her to let them "verify” the transaction using the station’s payment phone.

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Once they had the phone in their hands, one of the suspects would use a laptop to log into the MTN MoMo Business Partner Portal, claiming they had forgotten the password. The system would then send a One-Time Password (OTP) to the gas station’s phone, now in their possession, allowing them to reset the password.

With the new credentials availed to them by the MoMo portal, they would instantly transfer money from the station’s account to their own mobile wallets, bypassing the need for a physical SIM card.

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According to RIB, the group successfully stole Rwf 17,980,641 from nine fuel stations using this digital fraud technique before being apprehended.

The suspects face multiple charges, including forming or joining a criminal group, obtaining property by fraud, and unauthorised access to computer information.