In a shocking tale of digital crime, Gideon Kipkurui Rono, a university student from Bomet, orchestrated one of Kenya’s most elaborate mobile money frauds—stealing Ksh 449 million through Safaricom’s Fuliza service.
It began in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown. Rono, nicknamed “Giddy,” started by collecting lost ID cards and using them to register SIM cards via MobiGo machines. Each ID gave him five lines, each eligible for Fuliza loans. After activating and maxing out these loans, he discarded the SIMs.
Realizing the potential scale of the scam, Rono expanded his operation. He recruited tech-savvy friends and connected with individuals who could access fake ID databases. With 13 MobiGo machines, the team began mass-producing SIMs and siphoning Fuliza loans in bulk.
Their success allowed them to open multiple bank accounts to launder the money. Deposits flooded in daily, triggering internal red flags, but they remained a step ahead. Rono and his associates used the stolen funds to purchase vehicles including Subarus and a Mark X, all while posing as “farmers.”
By the end of 2021, the gang had defrauded Safaricom of nearly half a billion shillings. What started as a clever SIM card hustle turned into one of the biggest digital financial crimes in the country’s history.
This case highlights the urgent need for tighter mobile loan verification systems and better data protection to prevent future cybercrimes of such magnitude.
By Newshub