- The suspects are led by a one Mugarura Mike.
- These would among other ays pretend to be some of the big people in the country before defrauding them.
- They would also use MTN and Airtel land lines to call their victims.
Image: Babirye Sania
Five people who were arrested over major phone scams in the Country; have been charged and remanded to Luzira Government Prison.
The group appeared before Buganda Road Court garde one magistrate Asuman Muhumuza, who charged them with 7 counts including Personation, Conspiracy to defraud and Obtaining Money by false pretence.
They denied the said offences and were remanded until the 23rd of August 2022 as investigations into their case continue.
The suspects include a one Mugarura Mike, the allegedly prime suspect and mastermind of the said phone scam; Eletu Moses; Arim Rifad, Mwebembezi Patrick and Rwithonia Derrick.
Police investigations shows that the suspects utilized a network of call centers to call potential victims within the country.
These would allegedly obtain personal identifiable information obtained from a number of sources including websites of MDAs, like immigration foreigners with deportation; URA for tax related scams, NSSF for scams on benefits, UCC with threats of sim card de-registration and other mobile telephone networks and lawyers threatening legal action among others.
As part of the scams ,victims were convinced to part with money. Mugarura Mike was arrested after investigations into more than 54 incidents since 2009.
Police investigations further shows that the ringleader personated many nig people including; Gen. Salim Saleh, Rtd Major Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, Rtd Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Professor Ogenga Latigo, The CGP Dr.
Byabashaija, the late BOU Governor Mutebile, Hon, Sam kutesa, Business Mogal Patrick Bitature, Al Hajji Moses Kigongo, Robert Kabushenga(former CEO Vision Group), Brig. Mayombo’s son, and many other VIPs, whom they personated without their knowledge, and defrauded victims.
In the most recent phone scam, they targeted forensic officers in districts and regions. They are said to have acquired UTL line 0414673797 and MTN line 0776-318856, which they would use to target also SOCO’s alleged to be organising training courses in UK, USA and South Africa and would later ask the money to process their travel documents before defrauding them.
In all these phone scams, the suspects are said to have carried out sufficient research and in an organized manner, constructed narratives, with details of work stations, phone numbers, names and addresses; where they easily convinced their unsuspecting victims.Several exhibits including lists of names, phone numbers of potential victims, of progress, 7 mobile phones, other notebooks, hand written scripts that the scam workers used for talking to victims with elaborate details etc were recovered.End.