Be Warned of Gas Cylinder Business Scam; DCI
Gas Cylinder Business Scam; DCI has warned Kenyans of a fraudulent gas cylinder business targetting unsuspecting online users.
A serial online fraudster has been defrauding consumers through a non-existent shop professing to offer gas cylinders at an average price of Ksh2,250, according to a statement made by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The business also claimed to be attracting clients wishing to launch an LPG Gas Retail business with a Ksh50,000 start-up capital.
The serial scammer made away with various dealings as he used different pseudonyms to scam his customers.
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Online Gas Cylinder Business Scam
The police cited a case in which an unwary Lang’ata homeowner was duped into purchasing fictitious gas cylinders.
The Nairobi resident was looking for a profitable business to invest in when he stumbled across Heritage Gas Wholesalers, a group of con artists.
“It was in November last year while he was shopping online for a place to source the cylinders when he came across a Facebook page advertising the exact business.”
“The page which goes by the name Heritage Gas Wholesalers had information detailing that the business was dealing with gas cylinders, with several brands of cooking gas displayed. The page also had a contact number and the contact person,” DCI stated.
According to the DCI, the victim reportedly double-checked the page to ascertain its validity before making a purchase.
“Contented with the assurance by the fraudster, the would-be victim went ahead and placed an order of 60 gas cylinders at a total cost of Ksh354,000,” the DCI noted.
The shrewd salesman offered him a quote and asked him to pay a commitment fee of Ksh118,000, with the balance due upon delivery of the cylinders.
However, after some haggling, they agreed on a rate of Ksh100,000 because he was buying in quantity.
In December 2021, the victim transferred the amount via mobile money transactions to the con’s number,
As days passed client sensed foul play after the mobile number failed to go through.
The complainant reported the matter at Lang’ata police station.
“Detectives from DCI Lang’ata, augmented by sleuths drawn from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau-CRIB, applied detailed forensic analysis at the DCI National Forensic Laboratory and traced the suspect who was immediately arrested within Thika Township,” the police stated.
The suspect will face multiple charges among them conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretence and being in unlawful possession of and using fake identification.
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