Detectives Arrest Four Who Lured and Robbed Russians of Sh2.5M in Airbnb Scam

Police in Mombasa arrested three people for allegedly robbing two Russian nationals of Sh2.5 million while posing as short-term house attendants.

Police said they had pretended to offer Airbnb services at the short-term facility.

The three were Wednesday arraigned before Shanzu Chief Magistrate’s Court where detectives were granted three days to finalize their investigations, police said.

The three were smoked from their hideout inside a short-term stay facility at Badar House, in the Mwembeni area of Kisauni Sub-County.

Police had been tracing the suspects following reports of a Sunday robbery.

According to police, on January 19, 2025, the suspects cunningly concocted a scheme that led their unsuspecting victims into a well-laid trap.

In the alleged daring Sunday incident at Bamburi, the trio reportedly disguised themselves as AirBnB hosts and ushered in the two Russians.

Brandishing weapons, they ordered the foreigners to give them Sh2.5 million or else they would end their lives.

They forced the victims into transferring 1,986, 410 Russian Rubles online and surrendering cash amounts of 1,500 Russian Rubles, 120 Dirhams, and Sh45,000, police said.

DCI detectives have since established that the suspects operate an elaborate online dating site in liaison with overseas accomplices to scam foreign clients after which they channel the money into foreign bank accounts.

A team of detectives is investigating such cases to take action, DCI boss Mohamed Amin said.

Amin said suspects are devising several means of conning unsuspecting clients. The police boss said they are relying on among others technology to solve such incidents.

“It is a trend we are also rushing to solve,” he said.

He said DCI detectives have launched investigations into complaints indicating that some online businesses are allegedly conning unsuspecting buyers of various goods and services.

The alleged cons pose as sellers of among others furniture, utensils and other household goods.

Officials said the move comes amid increased cases where many unsuspecting buyers are duped into paying deposits for goods they have not seen.

The said sellers later vanish and become abusive before resorting to their usual conning business.

The detectives said the sellers, especially of furniture, have obtained thousands of shillings from the unsuspecting buyers.

For instance, one of the said sellers of furniture has been claiming to own a shop off Kangundo Road in  Nairobi.

The sellers operate on social media, especially TikTok and Instagram.