Senior Supt. Eric Kanyabuganza appealed to the general public to be conscious about any form of transaction especially electronic transfers not to fall prey of cyber-criminal gangs.
He advised that people should use all modes possible to verify if the payment is legal or going to the rightful recipient, to be on a preventive side.
He cited examples that include a Nigerian citizen, Seheed Olalejan Adebayo who entered Rwanda and connected with John Ruzige Gasana, a Rwanda last year and defrauded their customers of US$175,800 (Approx Rwf 130million) through their company named Miriensol Holdings Limited claiming that they would be offering travel and tour services.
The duo had acquire, from a local bank, a countertop card – Point-of-Sell (POS) device – a machine used to process financial transaction from one bank account to another using a credit or debit card.
“We discovered that they were using the POS to manipulate cards of individuals in Europe and transfer the money on Miriensol Holdings bank account. The Nigerian was the technician behind the scam while Gasana would withdraw the money and they share it,” said Senior Superintendant Eric Kanyabuganza, the director of Economic and Financial Crimes unit at Rwanda National Police.
“This proves that cyber-crimes have no borders, it can be committed anywhere at any times, that’s why dealing with them requires joint and concentrated efforts,” said Kanyabuganza.