How a Kenyan named Juma conned a Qatari investor Shs.100 million

This is the story of Juma, a Kenyan con artist, who enlisted the help of a Nigerian money laundering expert. But it was the Nigerian who was well known.

Abbas, a.k.a Hushpuppi, flaunted his riches on Instagram, drawing both awe and envy from the more than 2 m users who followed his account.

Hushpippi’s address was Palazzo Vasarce in Dubai. His get around car was a 2020 Rolls Royce Cullinan, his time piece was a Richard Millie wristwatch worth sh.23 million.?

His wardrobe was Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. He chartered private jets. Had lunch with famous stars and politicians.

He even owned a citizenship to a tax haven, Saint Kitts and Neves.

But to become all that, he needed master artistry of a Cyber con from Kenya. One Abdul Rahman Juma. Juma was little known prior to the SHS.100,000,000 heist that he planned and executed. This brought him to the FBI'S radar.

Born in Nairobi in March 1993, Juma grew up around his Somali origin family of brokers and schemers. By the time he was hitting puberty, he had already helped to Launder millions of his Uncles' deals proceeds. This enabled him to travel widely, and also work with professionals in Banking, IT and law enforcement.

When his peers were swapping sim cards and pulling petty crimes, Juma was already an expert in using sophisticated computer software’s to mine data of highly confidential financial transactions. He had perfected the art of cyber crime thro the following ways: Sending spear phishing emails.?These emails look like they’re from a trusted sender and they trick victims into revealing confidential information.?

Juma also used malicious software to infiltrate company networks and gain access to legitimate email threads about billing and invoices. He then used this information to time requests or send messages so accountants or financial officers don’t question payment requests. Malware also let him gain undetected access into a victim’s data, including passwords and financial account information.

He also made slight variations on legitimate e-mail addresses, to fool victims into thinking the fake accounts were authentic. Like adding a letter to the original email address.

That's how, in 2019, he stumbled upon a Qatari businessman who wanted to open a school in Doha. The school project was to cost $15M. The investor therefore was seeking a consultancy or Agency firm that would facilitate the Funding. The said firm, would need to be in the Project Financing space and should have a database of Investors seeking to be linked with plausible projects that yield high returns. The firm would undertake the paper work, negotiate the terms and offer legal advice.

It's there that Juma saw the opportunity. ?He listed himself as the Chairman of WESTLOAD FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, a finance solutions company based in Upperhill, Nairobi. He assured the Qatari investor that he had a lender with $15m ready.

?Using a hired website developer, he was able to make a complex website that at a glance, showed his company had years of experience and millions of dollars in revenues.

The Qatari investor was convinced that he was dealing with a legit firm. He flew all the way to Nairobi to sign the contract. For his 'services' Juma was to pocket $225, 000 as consultancy fees.

The victim wired the money, expecting to get the $15M loan and actualize his dream of owning an international school in Doha.

A few days later, Juma contacted the Qatari, claiming that he had secured the loan. He even sent fake wire confirmation message purported to be from Barclays Bank New York, to the Qatari National Bank.

At this point, Juma had contemplated shutting off his communication channel and disappearing into the sunset with the SHS.25 M loot that he had made in less than a month.?

But because he was an obsequious slave to his glutton, he wanted to rinse off the victim for every possible penny.

So he made the Qatari investor wait, as Juma planned for the next bait.

But upon discovering that the funds hadn't hit his account, he contacted Juma. Juma was already painting Nairobi with dollars; shopping for slim fit suits, expanding his business stalls in Eastleigh and planning for a destination holiday since it was December!

"Oh, you mean you have not received the cash? Let me check with New York." Juma's flatter to the desperate investor was another opportunity to get more money.

A day later, Juma informed the investor that there was a small delay. And the delay would require another payment of $150,000!?A release fee!

The investor was hesitant, but he had already seen the ‘Wire transfer’, so he thought that it was a small inconvenience but for a bigger good. He sent the cash to Juma.

Within days, Juma was shs.15 million richer.

This was the point that Juma ought to have vanished. I mean, once the Qatari investor paid the release money, there would be no other excuse as to why the loan was not hitting his account.

But Juma was a leech, and his host had more blood to be sucked.

Juma schemed to have more people enter the game. He needed someone with more experience. Someone who could play the role of the banker in New York. Juma contacted his old foe, Hushpuppi.

Hushpuppi came in with a wealth of experience. His CV read like a fantasy comic villain. He had defrauded a New York law firm $925,000. He had defrauded Lazio, an Italian Football club, ￡3,000,000 for a player transfer fees meant for another club. He had almost defrauded Arsenal FC for $300 Mils! Hushpuppi was the to go to in order to graduate into a million $$ scammer.

Hushpuppi, under the direction of Juma, contacted the Qatari investor.

The Qatari investor thought he was talking with the bank manager.

He, Hushpuppi, purported that 'his' bank couldn't release the funds because Qatar is sanctioned by the USA. To 'assist' the Qatari investor, Hushpuppi asked him to open an account in the USA and deposit $330,000 to show that the account is active.?

Hushpuppi acted quickly; he helped the Qatari investor register a business name and even sent fake documents for the investor to sign.

The Qatari investor sent the $330,00 thinking that he was opening an account in the USA.

Within another few days, Juma and Hushpuppi had another sh.35 million pay day!

By the time the Qatari investor realized that he was dealing with international cyber criminals, Hushpuppi had already added a sh.20 million watch to his collection, more cars to his garage and more cash to his stash. He was all the same happy to flaunt it on Instagram. Thanking God for the 'blessings' and urging his followers to work hard.

Thanks to his active social media presence, the FBI finally caught up with him in Dubai.

Juma was also arrested in Kenya, and is now waiting to be extradited to the USA to face charges.