Fake Facebook car dealer charged with Sh1.6 million fraud

A fake car dealer who advertised non-existent cars on Facebook and allegedly duped an unsuspecting buyer into a fake deal has been charged with conspiracy to defraud contrary to section 317 of the Penal Code. Cyrus Litswa was accused of conspiring with two others, who have already been charged, to advertise on their Facebook account under the false pretence that they were carrying on a genuine business as car dealers in the Ridgeways area of Starehe sub-county in Nairobi. They allegedly claimed that they were selling motor vehicles with registration numbers KDK 811X - a Mazda Demio and KDK 897Q - a Toyota Fielder to anyone who would remit them a sum of Sh1.6 million. Litswa was also charged with the offence of obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code where he is accused of defrauding Paul Muinde of Sh1.6 million. Also read: Young job seekers fall prey to scam on Facebook He is accused of defrauding Mr Muinde in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) on 26 January by falsely pretending to sell him the two cars. Mr Muinde had wanted to buy a motor vehicle and came across an advertisement on Facebook where a fictitious company - Al Mansoor Motors - had advertised the cars and claimed to be selling them at a yard along Kiambu Road. He later travelled to Nairobi and was taken to a yard along Kiambu Road where he saw the two cars. The complainant later visited Nairobi CBD with a person who claimed to be a salesman for the "company" to seal the deal. Mr Muinde later transferred half of the money from his bank account to that of the supposed company, which the supposed salesman had given him, and gave the rest to the salesman in cash. Also read: Sonko’s daughter calls out scammers behind fake Facebook account The salesman excused himself to deposit the cash at the bank, disappeared and then switched off his mobile phone. The complainant returned to the showroom where he had met the salesman and was told that the management of the bazaar did not know who he was dealing with and that the cars he had bought had not been sold. Realising that he had been duped, he reported the matter to Muthaiga Police Station and Mr Litswa was later located and arrested. He denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Eric Mutunga at the Makadara Law Courts. The suspect was released on Sh400,000 cash bail. The case will come up on 22 June when it will be consolidated with that of Mr Litswa's accomplice Geoffrey Matara, who was earlier charged. Also read: Akothee's brother-in-law was conned Sh0.5m in Facebook scam