A Kigali-based businessman is counting losses after falling victim to a property scam that cost him up to Rwf350 million, money he paid in good faith for a house and land that, as he found later, did not belong to the sellers. “I was promised property worth Rwf1.2 billion. I paid Rwf350 million before I realised I was being robbed,” the victim, who requested anonymity, said. His ordeal is part of a wider case involving 11 suspects who were paraded by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) on March 17. All of them are alleged to have participated in fraudulent schemes linked to the illegal sale of land and houses. The businessman recounted that his troubles began about six months ago, when a man he knew approached him with what appeared to be a worthwhile offer, a property located in Nyarugenge District valued at Rwf1.2 billion. He was told that the rightful owners lived abroad, and the property was undergoing a legal succession process in court. The businessman maintained contact, and he later was introduced to another individual who claimed to be one of the heirs. ALSO READ: 11 arrested in real estate scam, Rwf1b recovered “They told me they were waiting for court documents to finalise the succession process. Eventually, they presented documents that looked legitimate,” he said. Convinced by the paperwork and reassured by familiar faces, he agreed to purchase the property. Over the months, the businessman made several payments. He first paid Rwf10 million as the initial deposit, followed by Rwf240 million in a second instalment, and later Rwf100 million. In total, he paid about Rwf350 million, with an agreement that the remaining balance would be cleared during the final transfer of ownership. “At no point did I suspect anything. The documents looked authentic, and the people involved seemed credible,” he said. The turning point came just as he was preparing to complete the final payment and transfer process. “I was at the stage of finalising the land transfer when I received a call from RIB informing me that I was being defrauded,” he recounted. Reflecting on his experience, the victim urged others to exercise caution when engaging in property transactions. “I trusted people and documents that looked real. I never imagined it could be a scam,” he said, calling on people to be more vigilant. The businessman is not the only victim of the fraud. Several people have fallen victim to the group of 11 suspects now in RIB custody. RIB spokesperson Thierry Murangira said the suspects are believed to be part of a network involved in multiple offences, including forming a criminal group, impersonation, fraud, forgery, and use of forged documents, as well as money laundering. Murangira said that the investigations are ongoing to identify any other person who is linked with the group. He further added that so far, approximately Rwf1 billion linked to the fraudulent activities have been recovered. However, the total value of the properties involved has not yet been established. The suspects are currently detained at various RIB stations in Kigali. They face prison sentences ranging from two to 15 years.
