This archive report was first published on 18 July 2021.
On July 17, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested a suspect accused of using romance tricks to defraud single elderly women in Nairobi.
The suspect, who operated in Nairobi, targeted vulnerable women about to receive their pension, promising them a love-filled retirement.
He would convince them to start businesses with him, only to disappear with their entire savings.
"He targets lonely women who are about to receive their pension before showering them with sweet nothings and promises of a blissful retirement together," the DCI noted.
One woman lost Ksh780,050 to the suspect after he tricked her into a love affair and convinced her to invest in a water refilling business.
"Oblivious of his intentions, the woman gave him the money to start it, and that marked the beginning of her woes. What started as a blossoming love story and a joint retirement venture ended in premium tears," the DCI stated.
When confronted, the suspect claimed the business had crumbled after being taken over by an insurance company to pay an unspecified debt.
The DCI urged any other victims to report the matter at the Special Crimes Unit at the DCI headquarters.
