Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has revealed a surprising criminal trend of thieves impersonating members of security institutions in order to steal from fellow criminals. RIB Spokesperson Thierry Murangira explained this scheme on Thursday, May 15 at Remera RIB Station, where 19 suspects linked to fraud-related crimes were paraded before the media. RIB also returned 322 mobile phones, valued at over Rwf77 million, that had been stolen through various fraudulent schemes to their owners. ALSO READ: RIB urges public to remain vigilant about phone theft The suspects are currently held at Nyarugenge, Gikondo, Kicukiro, and Kinyinya RIB stations. Some of the suspects were found to have pretended to be investigators and police officers and targeted shops known to deal in stolen items, especially mobile phones. They purported to carry out “security operations” to confiscate the goods, Murangira told reporters. “These impostors are aware that certain shop owners are involved in selling stolen goods,” he said. “They disguise themselves as security officers, seize the items, and instead of handing them over to rightful owners, they steal them for their own gain.” He said such criminal schemes undermine the work of law enforcement agencies and would not be tolerated. He warned the public against giving money to strangers who promise unrealistic returns. One suspect is under investigation for defrauding 12 people of Rwf142 million, after claiming he could help them receive money from abroad. What to do when your phone is stolen? Murangira advised the public to immediately report any mobile phone theft to RIB and request SIM swap services at telecom companies as soon as possible. “When your phone is stolen, it may be hacked,” the official warned. “Thieves can access mobile money passwords, banking apps, and steal funds from your accounts.” ALSO READ: PHOTOS: RIB parades 45 mobile money fraud suspects He urged people to always keep a record of their device’s serial number, which applies to all digital devices, including laptops and tablets. How an unsuspecting fiancée became an accomplice Murangira also highlighted a case involving house helps who stole up to 9,000 Canadian dollars (approximately Rwf9.1 million) and a phone from visitors in the household they served. Rwf4,155,200 was recovered from the suspects, according to Murangira. “One of the suspects gave Rwf1.2 million to his fiancée and told her not to ask where the money came from. He also shared part of the money with his mother. Both are now being held as accomplices,” Murangira explained. “Never accept large amounts of money from someone if you don’t know the source. They may have obtained it illegally, and you could be held accountable. If it’s legitimate, they should deposit it in the bank.” ALSO READ: 12 arrested in phone theft racket He also warned that if a person who buys a stolen phone might also be an accomplice or lose the money. “There are cases where people's phones were stolen, and when they filed a case, we found that the phones had already been stolen before they bought them,” said Murangira. Remain vigilant Murangira noted that people must take personal responsibility for their belongings, as recovery is not always guaranteed. “There are people losing property due to negligence,” he said.
