Kitgum, Uganda | URN | Security authorities in Kitgum district are investigating nine people accused of obtaining millions of Shillings from unsuspecting businessmen in a questionable online business.
Security received a tip off that a group of people were luring local businessmen to invest money in an online business that reportedly gives back high interest within a short time.
Kitgum Resident District Commissioner, William Komakech, says the suspects have been operating in the district since November last year as “Century Trade Online” employees and business associates.
He says the suspects deceived their victims that they had been cleared by his office and had been getting between Shillings 500,000 to Shillings 3 million from their victims.
According to Komakech, the suspect’s luck run out on Sunday 19th after two of them were netted in Omiya Anyima sub county trading center. Seven others were picked up from Kitgum municipality on Monday 20th.
He says all the suspects in custody had injected their money into the questionable online business and were now acting as recruits for new clients with promises of getting five per cent for any new member recruited.
Komakech says they have already issued warnings to all those who injected their money in the business to find ways of getting it back before it’s late.
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He advised businessmen against dumping their money in businesses that don’t have clear background, saying they risk being conned.
The suspects who include five women and four men spent the better part of Monday at Kitgum central police station recording statements. They were released on police bond pending investigations.
This is not the first time residents are falling prey to such online business scam.
Last year, several civil servants in the district lost over Shillings 50 million in a similar online scam.
