Mastermind behind 2022 UGX400 Million electronic fraud scheme in Bugiri arrested

The police have arrested a suspect identified as Tinyefuza Innocent who robbed unsuspecting people of UGX400 million in an electronic fraud orchestrated in 2022.

According to the case file, in 2022, fraudsters led by Tinyefuza orchestrated a scheme in Bugiri, persuading community members to register on an application named USwind.

The perpetrators allegedly provided the unsuspecting community members with a link promising access to a lucrative money platform linked to Airtel money’s merchant code 102381.

Victims were led to believe that they could generate profits through online investments, prompting them to make huge deposits. Unfortunately, the application was abruptly closed after duping people of their hard-earned money.

Upon reporting the incident, investigations pointed towards Tinyefuza, who allegedly withdrew over 400 million from the mentioned merchant using three sim cards and two belonging to his wife.

According to a source at CID, the file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who recommended the arrest and charging of the suspect.

An operation was executed by detectives on Tuesday 3rd January 2024, resulting in the arrest of Tinyefuza from Bulamu, Gayaza. A search at his residence recovered three sim cards used in the fraudulent transactions, two sim cards registered under his wife’s name, also involved in the illicit activities, a biometric machine for registering sim cards, a laptop, registration documents for the merchant code linked to the conned money platform and additional company registration documents.

Detectives found out that Tinyefuza’s academic records revealed his background as a software engineer, with outstanding grades in software engineering and development. It is suspected that he may have developed the fraudulent money application himself.

Investigations also revealed that the suspect, in his day-to-day activities, engages in real estate, utilizing the ill-gotten funds from the fraud to invest in buying and selling land.

He is in custody, and preparations are underway to present him in court.