Patrick Nzabonimana, a victim of the scheme, said he learned about OCP through a workmate who had already joined the scheme. “They told us that OCP was an organisation aiming to sell fertilisers using artificial intelligence. I joined after paying money, and they asked me to recruit other people so that I could form a chain. Whenever someone joined through me, I received a commission,” he said. ALSO READ: How to spot a pyramid scheme in Rwanda; tell tale signs He joined the platform on January 10 but invested only Rwf9,200 because he did not fully trust it. He said the platform initially paid him Rwf640 per day. “However, in February the operators introduced a new investment plan, asking participants to invest Rwf75,000 with a promise that they would receive Rwf75,000 per day and be able to withdraw their earnings after three days,” he explained. The platform later shut down before anyone was able to withdraw the promised funds, causing many participants who had invested larger amounts to lose their funds. Nzabonimana said the organisers claimed to have an office in Nyabugogo, but this was never confirmed. “They used to tell us that they had offices in Nyabugogo, but whenever they organised meetings or events for members, they would take us to bars or pubs instead,” he noted. According to him, members communicated with the alleged owner of the platform, although they did not know her exact location. “The owner was a white woman called Sarah who changed her phone number almost every day. She never used the same number for more than a day. She used to inform us in the group which number she would be using that day,” he said. He added that the owner had a representative in Kigali known as Rachel, but her phone number is currently unreachable. Nzabonimana said that withdrawals stopped on February 27, and since then depositors have been unable to access their money. He also noted that the platform later changed its name from OCP to OFE, although the alleged owner reportedly remained the same. RIB investigating Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) is currently investigating the matter, according to the bureau’s spokesperson, Thierry B. Murangira. Murangira warned the public about deceptive investment schemes, noting that it is surprising that even educated individuals continue to fall victim to such fraud. “It remains surprising that even highly educated people, including PhD holders and other intellectuals, continue to invest their money in such schemes,” he said. “In many cases, these investments are made through platforms that are not regulated by banks or any recognised financial institutions, leaving investors with no clear place to seek accountability when promises are not fulfilled.” Murangira explained that many of these schemes present themselves as investment opportunities in agricultural products such as coffee, tea, fruits and vegetables, even though investors have no direct involvement in those sectors. “Promoters often use artificial intelligence to generate attractive images of agricultural produce, claiming they are produced in Rwanda in order to convince people to invest,” he explained. The schemes often begin by asking for relatively small investments, sometimes as little as Rwf50,000 or Rwf100,000. After a short period, investors may receive a small payment around Rwf5,000 which is presented as profit. However, authorities say the money often comes from the investor’s original deposit. As a result, some participants begin spreading the message that the platform is profitable, encouraging others to join. Within a few months, more people invest larger sums of money. Eventually, the operators who are often based outside the country disappear or shut down the platform, leaving investors unable to recover their money. Victims later report the cases to RIB, even though many did not verify the legitimacy of the schemes beforehand. Murangira added that participants are often promised a commission of about 10 per cent whenever they recruit another person to invest through them. RIB has warned that individuals who encourage others to join illegal pyramid schemes will face punishment as authorities intensify efforts to combat financial fraud. “People who invite or persuade others to join pyramid schemes will be treated as accomplices to the crime” Many promoters recruit close relatives and friends including brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, fathers-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law convincing them to invest. “The crackdown will also target individuals who travel to rural areas and other communities misleading residents with false promises of quick and guaranteed profits.” According to Murangira, pyramid schemes have long been discussed and warned against, yet many people continue to fall victim to them. Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid investment opportunities that promise unusually high returns within a short period.
