- Michael Otieno Onyango and Andrew Clifford Otieno were arrested for a $5.6 million (Ksh719 million) fake gold scam.
- The victim, an American businesswoman, was lured to buy 70 kilograms of non-existent gold.
- The scam fell apart after the suspects failed to attend a Ministry of Mining verification test.
- Police recovered smelting machines and moulds from the suspects’ hideout.
- This follows a similar case where a Canadian investor lost Ksh36.1 million in a gold fraud.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested two suspected scammers involved in a multi-million-dollar fake gold scheme targeting an American businesswoman.
The suspects, Michael Otieno Onyango and Andrew Clifford Otieno, allegedly lured the investor to buy 70 kilograms of gold that did not exist, in a deal worth $5.6 million (Ksh719 million).
The businesswoman asked the suspects to verify the gold through the Ministry of Mining before making any payments. While the scammers initially agreed, they failed to appear for a scheduled gold test, raising red flags.
Despite the risks, the investor arranged a second meeting. She was picked up from Yaya Centre by a supposed associate, under the pretence of going for coffee, but was instead driven to Rose Villa Estate, where the suspects awaited.
During the meeting, the scammers tried to finalise the fake deal. The businesswoman stayed cautious, prompting the suspects to flee in a blue Mazda CX-5 (KDP 336R).
DCI detectives, who were trailing the vehicle, quickly intercepted it. The suspects were apprehended, and a search of their hideout at House 27, Rose Villa Estate, recovered two smelting machines and nineteen smelting moulds.
The suspects are now in custody, awaiting arraignment.
This arrest comes shortly after DCI detectives nabbed Abbas Bardu Omuyoma (aka Ishmael), who defrauded a Canadian investor of Ksh36.1 million ($280,000) over a fake gold deal. Ishmael promised 550 kg of gold allegedly from the DRC but never delivered, leading to his capture on Dennis Pritt Road, Nairobi.
DCI warns investors to exercise caution and verify all gold transactions to avoid falling victim to such elaborate scams.
