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Fraudsters Hiding Behind Irembo Code to Steal Through WhatsApp

by Jean de la Croix Tabaro
4:50 pm

Beware

If you get a message from someone telling you that they are Irembo staffs who want to handle a problem in your account and thus asking you to provide them with your Irembo password, think twice.

The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has discovered fraudsters that disguise as Irembo staff to swindle money from WhattsAp users.

And how does it work?

After investigation, RIB has just released a communiqué, according to which “fraudsters use the victims WhatsApp numbers to install WhatsApp in their handsets. They call and disguise as Irembo staff claiming to have mistakenly sent verification codes to the victims’ numbers and ask to be forwarded the codes,” reads the communiqué in part.

“The victims’ WhatsApp gets switched off while fraudsters get full access to their WhatsApp and begin soliciting money from phone contacts. They call friends of the victims asking them to send money to the provided numbers promising to pay back after busy commitments.”

RIB said it is tracking down “these culprits to face Justice and to prevent other cybercrimes.”

In the meantime, RIB requests anyone who has fallen victim to these scammers or noticing suspicious activities in this regard to report to any nearest RIB station for further investigation.

“We urge the public not to share their WhatsApp credentials/codes to anyone who ask for them through phone calls or any other ways as scammers use these credentials for WhatsApp identity theft,” RIB says.

“We also appeal to members of the Public to be cautious with sudden request to transfer money through Mobile Money from members within their phone contacts.”

To report any such case, victims are advised to call RIB toll free number 166.