The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has sounded alarm over a pyramid scheme that has lured and stolen from thousands of unsuspecting Kenyans.
In a statement on Wednesday, the investigators noted that they had received a number of complaints from investors who are now crying foul after losing millions of Shillings to NMK Capital Investment Limited.
According to the DCI, NMK Capital Investment Limited is believed to have been registered in the country in 2021 and has seven directors, including a Kenyan.
"Lately, DCI's Serious Crime Unit has received numerous complaints from victims who ventured into the scheme, laying claims that nothing is left of their thousands and millions of investment after the directors fell out and the key suspect holed up," the statement read in part.
The officers noted that the main pyramid scheme has been working closely with another sister company, Bidsworth Autorents Capital Limited, both of which are located in Nairobi City's Central Business District (CBD).
Over 5,000 investors were hoodwinked to enter into a six months contract with the scheme, in which each person contributed Ksh50,000, according to DCI.
"This would accrue a redeemable monthly interest of 15 per cent, or a similar percentage of compounded interest redeemable at the end of the contract period (6months)," the DCI stated.
Investigators established that the company went further to offer car hire services by leasing vehicles from unsuspecting members of the public, which it then hired out to individuals and agencies.
"Car owners allegedly received 30 per cent of the proceeds from the company. Other ventures included off plan properties," DCI stated in their statement.
Eventually, investors are reporting to have lost millions of money from the investment and payments made for off plan houses, while some of those who leased out their vehicles have no track of them.
The DCI has come out to warn members of the public that the two companies are under active investigations, and have become a major financial risk to the public.
"We call on Kenyans to exercise caution and due diligence before engaging in any such ventures whose proprietors' sheer greed for riches is founded on fraudulence," the DCI cautioned.
