Two men have been arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for robbing unsuspecting Kenyans using a new, unorthodox tactic.
The suspects, according to the DCI, posed as female massage therapists online to lure clients to rob them of their valuables.
According to authorities, the two suspects aggressively advertised 'professional massage services' on various online platforms to pull clients to their residence in Kasarani.
Somehow, their defrauding method has worked, with one of the victims falling for the scheme after being lured to the suspects' house after responding to an advertisement online.
"One such victim, perhaps dreaming of scented oils and spa music, reported the ordeal to the Kasarani Police Station," the DCI revealed in their statement, adding that the victim was enticed by the advertisement, which promised top-tier services.
Upon reaching the residence, the suspect was ambushed by the duo, who brandished weapons before forcing him to transfer Ksh280,000 to a mobile number linked to the robbers. He also lost other valuables during the encounter, according to the DCI.
The victim reported the matter to the Kasarani Police Station, prompting investigations using forensic tools to track down the suspect. Eventually, the rogue duo were nabbed at an entertainment spot, a few kilometres from the apartment where they operated.
Photos of the suspects have since emerged online, depicting an interesting picture of the lengths they went to to convince unsuspecting clients that they were genuine massage therapists.
Notably, the suspects wore full make-up and other feminine products to deceive potential clients that they were women ready to offer high-class massage services.
The massage business in Kenya, despite being fairly lucrative, has been subjected to stigma and criticism in recent times, particularly because of the vices associated with it. Besides issues of fake massage therapists, there is also an emerging trend of individuals using their parlours to conduct other unlawful businesses.
In another separate sting operation, the DCI exposed an online syndicate where individuals are creating fraudulent social media accounts and impersonating senior government officials to defraud unsuspecting Kenyans.
The DCI's revelations came after two suspects were charged at the Kahawa Law Courts for allegedly operating fake accounts, including one purporting to represent Principal Secretary for Interior Raymond Omollo.
