Rwanda Investigation Bureau is detaining six individuals suspected to belong to a wider ring of swindlers and impersonators of high ranking government officials.

Jean Batiste Sekanyambo, Steven Ntenderi and Olivier Uwizeyimana, are suspected to the organizers and recruiters of this group. Investigations reveal that they operate through hiring drivers and other fraudsters who create fake stamps and purchase orders that are later sent to different unsuspecting companies to supply products.

RIB also has in custody three other individuals belonging to this syndicate including Jean Pierre Muhawenimana the transporter of conned items, Bizimana Emmanuel, the seller and Dusabeyezu Pascal who counterfeits stamps.

Legal businesses that have fallen victim to this fraudulent schemes include MANEBU Industries Ltd, MINIMEX Rwanda Ltd, Elite Digital Company, SORWATOM and ERI Rwanda among others.

Leaders of this criminal ring use phone calls to pose as officials in government to order these companies to supply products for government institutions and imminent conferences and workshops in the country.

According to Emiliene Mukamutesi, the marketing manager at ERI Rwanda, a local distributing company, she once received a call from someone [impostor] who told her that they needed the company to supply NIDO packed milk for the 16th National Umushyikirano Council. The company received the purchase order through email and immediately delivered the products.

However after the delivery, another pick-up truck arrived, whose driver purported to be the one to transport the milk to where the Umushyikirano event was taking place. The driver drove off after the truck was loaded with the supplies. After two days of the agreed time for payment Mukamutesi called the person [impostor] who ordered for the provision of milk but his phone was off for weeks raising suspicion, until she realized the company had been conned.

Modeste Mbabazi, RIB spokesperson said that all the six individuals’ files are being compiled and they will be charged with three counts of falsification and use of forged documents, formation of or joining a criminal association and fraud.

Mbabazi also commends the public and business owners for their cooperation in ensuring these offenders face justice. He also appeals to business managers to always be cautious and verify the authenticity of purchase orders to avoid being swindled.