Guinean authorities have arrested Abdoulaye M'Balou Kaba on November 6 in Dixinn for allegedly impersonating a military commander and scamming hundreds of millions of Guinean francs from victims. Kaba, who was apprehended by agents from the Secretariat General to the Presidency, charged with special services and combating organized crime, is accused of cybercrime, identity theft, and forgery. According to authorities, Kaba had been evading capture for several years.
The suspect allegedly began his scamming activities in 2023 and managed to deceive multiple victims, including the Director-General of FAP-GAZ, Kaman Sadji. Kaba used various methods to carry out his crimes, including creating multiple WhatsApp and Signal accounts, as well as Facebook profiles. He would pose as high-ranking government officials, including the military commander Dantily Moriba Keïta, alias "Kilo," to gain the trust of his victims.
According to Commissioner Foromo Soropogui of the Central Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, Kaba's modus operandi involved destroying his phone SIM card after each successful operation. However, his latest arrest was made possible through the use of advanced technology. Soropogui revealed that Kaba had managed to siphon significant amounts of money from his victims through simple phone calls.
The suspect allegedly used Commander Kilo's identity to scam Sadji, the Director-General of FAP-GAZ. Kaba created a WhatsApp account in the commander's name and sent messages to Sadji, claiming to be a close associate of the commander. He then collected the money from Sadji, who was unaware that he was being scammed. Kaba reportedly received multiple transfers from Sadji, including 75 million Guinean francs, $25,000, and an additional 20 million Guinean francs.
During interrogation, Kaba admitted to the crimes and revealed that he had used the money for personal gain, including financing his wedding and furnishing his home. He also claimed that he had planned to use some of the funds to start construction work in his village. Kaba expressed regret for his actions and advised others not to engage in similar activities.
Commissioner Soropogui, speaking on behalf of the head of special services, Colonel Mohamed Lamine Simakan, issued a warning to the Guinean public. He urged citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious messages or activities. Soropogui emphasized that the military community was also affected by Kaba's actions and that his behavior was unacceptable.
Kaba is expected to be charged with cybercrime, identity theft, forgery, and other related offenses. He will be brought before the competent prosecutor's office to face the charges. The Guinean authorities have vowed to continue combating cybercrime and protecting citizens from such scams.
Key points
- The suspect, Abdoulaye M'Balou Kaba, impersonated a military commander to scam hundreds of millions of francs from victims.
- Kaba's modus operandi involved using multiple social media accounts and phone numbers to deceive his victims.
- The Guinean authorities have warned the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
