Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have arrested a 50-year-old Stacey Marie Parker on suspicion of masterminding a ponzi scheme in which millions of Kenyans’ money went up in smoke.
Ms Parker was apprehended shortly after arriving in the country on Saturday, according to detectives.
“Hawk-eyed detectives pounced on the 50-year-old suspect, identified as Stacey Marie Parker Blake, minutes after she disembarked from her flight at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.” According to a police report obtained by Citizen Digital. “The suspect was apprehended after a thorough investigation by serious crimes detectives.”
The suspect has been linked to Amazon Web Worker, a ponzi scheme that drained potential investors’ pockets dry.
Users were duped into investing in an online get-rich-quick scheme that promised unusually high returns.
Those who were lured into the scheme through social media advertisements were promised a 38 percent return on their investment.
“In one such advertisement, investors who deposited Sh100,000 were promised Sh351,000 after 30 days!” the detectives said.
Victims would be required to apply for membership by providing personal information such as their full name, mobile phone number, and MPESA details.
Kenyans who believed in the enticing opportunity registered and contributed money.
Unaware of what lay ahead, some registered friends and family.
It wasn’t until the app was removed from the App Store that investors realized something was wrong.
“They were shocked to learn that the app was not in any way linked to Amazon, a multinational technology company based in the United States,”the police report said.
The app went down with deposits worth hundreds of millions of shillings from gullible investors, who had hoped to hit the jackpot, once their deposits earned profits
Following several reports to the DCI, detectives swung into action and are currently pursuing a number of suspects.
Meanwhile, the main suspect is being held in police custody pending her arraignment on charges of money laundering and computer fraud, among others.
