The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) on September 8 paraded 26 suspects accused of orchestrating fraudulent schemes through mobile money transactions, often by purporting to be telecom company agents. ALSO READ: 26 arrested in Rwf30m mobile money fraud scheme RIB spokesperson Thierry Murangira highlighted the most common tricks used by fraudsters and offered advice to the public. ‘I sent you money by mistake’ One of the most common tricks the scammers use is calling or sending a fake message claiming that they sent money to mobile money wallet accidentally. The victim is then asked to press certain numbers to “return” the money lest their account might be blocked if the matter is escalated with the telecom company. Some unsuspecting people do comply with the caller's demands and send the money only to know later that they had been tricked by a fraudster. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: RIB parades 45 mobile money fraud suspects Fake account suspension Fraudsters often call while posing as mobile money agents, claiming that the victim’s account has been blocked because it received money sent by error. A fake message is then sent, reading something like, “Your MoMo account has been blocked.” ALSO READ: Parading of suspects challenged in Supreme Court “Sometimes, if you double-check the language used or the number that sent the message, you can easily tell it is from fraudsters,” Murangira said. Many victims, however, panic and ask the caller how to reactivate their accounts. By following the instructions given, which usually involve dialling codes such as *182...#, they end up transferring money or exposing their secret PIN. Murangira urged the public to always contact official service centres in such cases. Fake loan promises Another common trick involves fraudsters calling victims with offers to increase the mobile money loan limit. Once the victim shows interest, they are given codes to dial, which instead result in their money being withdrawn by another person. Intimidation According to Murangira, a relatively new scheme involves fraudsters claiming that a person’s national ID is linked to multiple SIM cards, some allegedly involved in fraud. The perpetrators use numbers that closely resemble those of officials and intimidate victims by warning of harsh penalties, including SIM card suspension. “Once the victim shows fear and asks what to do, the fraudsters instruct them to enter certain codes that transfer money or change their PIN, effectively taking control of the account,” he explained. In some cases, they even tell the victim to transfer money from their bank account to their SIM card, pretending it is a test to check reactivation. Exploiting emotions Fraudsters also use heartbreaking stories to cloud people’s judgment. “For example, they may claim your child has been involved in an accident and that they are a school teacher at the hospital seeking money for the child's emergency treatment,” Murangira said. Without verifying with the school or family, some victims rush to send money. Misleading transfer messages Some victims also fall prey to simple but effective messages such as: “Send the money to this number.” If the recipient was already planning to send money to someone, they may not think twice before transferring it to the fraudster’s number. Murangira cautioned the public to always verify the identity of the sender before making payments. Murangira noted that fraudsters sometimes deploy female collaborators who are fluent in foreign languages or who use soft, persuasive voices to gain trust. “Fraudsters have no specific identity or voice. They adapt to whatever will convince the victim,” he said. He added that as Rwanda increasingly embraces digital transactions, fraudsters are shifting tactics from physical theft to electronic fraud. “As people move towards cashless systems, the risk of falling victim to digital scams is growing,” he said, urging due diligence and warning against engaging with fraudsters, as they succeed once given attention.
