Caught Red-Handed: The Clever Trap that Nabbed a Telegram KCSE Exam Scammer.
On Sunday night, Collins Kipchumba visited a local club in Nakuru City with his girlfriend to watch an English Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea.
Unbeknownst to him, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were closely monitoring his movements.
The previous day, they had observed him playing pool with friends in Ngata, but hesitated to arrest him immediately due to his various online identities, which made verification difficult.
In Masaba North, Kisii County, Stephen Nyang’au Mbeche was arrested on the same day, facing similar allegations.
Meanwhile, Kipchumba, a 23-year-old human resource management graduate, returned to his rented residence in Nakuru’s Kiamunyi area after the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
The detectives, having worked tirelessly to verify his identity, discovered that he was using his mother’s identity under a female alias on social media.
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His mother lives in Sacho, Baringo County, and he reportedly used a phone number registered under his girlfriend’s ID to receive payments from unsuspecting individuals hoping to cheat in the KCSE exams.
Payment Records and Surveillance
To confirm his activities, DCI investigators requested transaction records from Safaricom, assessing the amount of money Kipchumba had accumulated through this scheme.
The detectives spent the night near his residence, finalizing their analysis and ensuring he was the primary suspect they sought.
His capture was deemed critical as the next day marked the KCSE Mathematics and Kiswahili exams, suggesting potential upcoming fraudulent activities.
The DCI explained that Kipchumba was involved in creating a WhatsApp group where he shared doctored images of KCSE exams, persuading students, parents, and teachers to pay for access.
He would allegedly take photographs of exam papers after they were opened, alter the timestamp, and send himself the images to present them as if obtained early in the morning.
This strategy made the images appear authentic to group members, thus attracting more payments.
Authorities report that the suspect allegedly commands a significant following, with over 78,000 subscribers on Telegram and more than 8,500 participants in his WhatsApp groups.
These platforms have reportedly been used to facilitate his operations.
Undercover Operations and the Arrest
A female detective played a crucial role in the operation by posing as a potential tenant. She approached Kipchumba under the pretense of a businesswoman inquiring about rental options.
After receiving a tour of the property, she assured him she would return with her “husband” in a few hours. Upon her return with her team, the detectives found Kipchumba in the house with his girlfriend.
He was arrested, and while no exam papers were found, his devices were confiscated for forensic analysis at the DCI headquarters.
The following Tuesday, Kipchumba was arraigned in Nakuru Law Courts. He did not enter a plea, as the police sought additional time to complete their investigation.
The court granted a seven-day extension, with Kipchumba scheduled to return the following week.
Detectives revealed that he faced charges for unauthorized possession of examination materials, soliciting money illegally, and fraudulently obtaining funds from the public.
Broader Examination Scams and Telegram Groups
Recent reports have highlighted how examination scammers manipulate parents, students, and teachers into sending money under the guise of providing exam papers.
Numerous fraudulent groups on platforms like Telegram have been deactivated following these reports, with detectives noting that most doctored images in circulation originated from Kipchumba’s group.
ALSO READ: DCI Arrests KCSE Exam Leakage Guru With 78,000 Followers on Telegram
In addition, teachers nationwide have been arrested and charged with involvement in similar examination malpractice activities.
Caught Red-Handed: The Clever Trap that Nabbed a Telegram KCSE Exam Scammer.
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