Kenyan authorities have exposed an elaborate romantic scam after arresting a woman and her accomplice for staging a fake robbery that targeted her British boyfriend.
The Setup: Online Romance Turns Deadly
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect identified as Samira Mumbi Kiarie had been cultivating an online relationship with the British national for several months. Through digital courtship, she built what appeared to be a genuine connection, promising everlasting love and affection.
The scheme reached its climax when Samira convinced her foreign boyfriend to visit her luxury apartment in Nyali, Mombasa for what he believed would be a dream date. Unbeknownst to him, he was walking directly into a carefully orchestrated criminal plot.
The Staged Robbery: Fake Husband and Police Officer
Minutes after the British national arrived at the Nyali apartment, the romantic atmosphere shattered when two men burst through the door. One man dramatically claimed to be Samira's enraged husband, while the other presented himself as a police officer by flashing a fake police identification card.
The scenario unfolded with the fake husband accusing the Briton of destroying his marriage, while the impersonated officer threatened immediate arrest. Overwhelmed by fear and confusion, the foreign national was coerced into transferring Sh800,000 to mobile numbers provided by the criminals.
Once the money transfer was confirmed, the trio calmly escorted their victim from the apartment and disappeared into Mombasa's night, leaving the traumatized Briton to realize he had been victimized by an elaborate scam.
The Investigation and Arrests
The criminals' celebration was short-lived as detectives from the DCI launched an intensive investigation based on forensic intelligence. The pursuit led to the arrest of Samira and one of her accomplices, Paul Webster Mangeni, also known as Paulo.
Further investigations revealed that the two suspects belong to a notorious criminal syndicate that specifically targets foreigners through dating platforms. Their modus operandi involves luring victims to Airbnb accommodations or private apartments before robbing them of substantial amounts of money.
Both suspects remain in police custody undergoing processing while awaiting arraignment in court. Authorities have intensified the manhunt for their third accomplice who remains at large.
The DCI has issued warnings about the increasing sophistication of online dating scams targeting foreigners in Kenya, urging increased vigilance when developing digital relationships with unfamiliar parties.
