Woman Impersonates AirBnB Owners, Scamming Victims Across Four Counties
She created multiple social media platforms, including Facebook accounts with names of unexisting AirBNBs
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has apprehended Sheila Wakesho Matasa, the suspect behind a widespread Airbnb scam that targeted holidaymakers in Nairobi, Kiambu, Kisumu, and Mombasa counties.
The 24-year-old suspect was nabbed at a bank lobby in Kiambaa, Kiambu County, after her accounts were frozen due to suspicious transactions.
DCI officials have described Wakesho’s actions as part of a “well-choreographed scheme that has milked both local and foreign coast-goers to the bones.”
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Wakesho created multiple social media platforms, including Facebook accounts with names like Lifestyle Beachfront Airbnb, Mombasa Raha Airbnb, and Shah Tours, amassing over 10,000 unsuspecting followers.
“In a well-choreographed scheme that has milked both local and foreign Coast-goers to the bones, the daring Wakesho opened several social media platforms purporting to own a number of AirBnBs in the Coastal region of Mombasa, drawing a followership of over 10K unsuspecting fun lovers,” noted the DCI.
The investigation uncovered that Wakesho not only plagiarized information but also used copyrighted photos to advertise her non-existent Airbnb properties.
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Once she had trapped her victims online, she directed them to transfer booking fees to Mpesa, disappearing afterwards and leaving them stranded at various locations.
“After netting her targets who could only reach her online, the quiet suspect with loud deals directed them to channel booking fees to M-Pesa Till no. 8981656 or Paybill no. 400200 ACC name: 01100252088001, after which she would vanish leaving them stranded along beaches, bus stations, SGR terminals and airports,”
The suspect also used multiple subscriber SIM cards registered under different names, often utilizing stolen ID cards to evade detection.
Wakesha was apprehended when a banker, depositing money to her account, noticed suspicious activity and promptly alerted authorities
The DCI has urged victims to come forward and report such cases to the authorities.
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