Police investigate loss of over Ksh 6 million from local bank through cyber fraud

Kenya’s Director Directorate of Criminal Investigations is investigating the loss of KSh 6964 600 million from the Consolidated Bank of Kenya.

The theft was reported to have happened between January 1 -7, 2019 through electronic fund transfers, identity theft, and other forms of fraud.

Through a court affidavit stamped on 24 January 2019 by the Chief Magistrates Court, Milimani Law Court and signed by PC Simon Obiero, a Police Officer attached at the DCI headquarters, Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit, he was instructed to conduct investigations into the said matter “where the complainant Consolidated Bank lost money following an authorized intrusion into their bank system by unknown persons and performing disputed transactions to various accounts.”

However, “That the disputed transactions to the bank accounts is said to have emanated from Consolidated Bank through Pesa Link, but is not supported by internal debits of Consolidated Bank occasioning loss of about Ksh 6,964,600 credited into the bank account of the respondents.”

The investigator further states that “I am privy to information that electronically stolen money was wired into the bank account numbers domiciled at Standard Charted Bank, Stanbic Bank, Sidian Bank, Family Bank, Barclays Bank NIC Bank, Co-operative Bank, and KCB Bank.”

The said money was fraudulently credited into the said accounts on the diverse date between 1 January to 7th January 2019.

On Wednesday, the DCI published names of 130 suspects wanted in connection with electronic fraud by allegedly hacking bank systems.

“The suspects are wanted in connection with electronic fraud by hacking into banks systems. Any person with information on their whereabouts should contact the DCI headquarters or the nearest police station,” said the DCI.