The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kenya has reported the arrest of a man, known as "Biggie wa Deals," who allegedly spent KSh43,320 mistakenly sent to his mobile phone. According to the DCI, the money was intended for a businessman named Zack, who had meant to pay a supplier but sent the funds to the wrong mobile phone number due to a mistyped digit.
Upon receiving the transaction notification, Biggie reportedly checked his account balance twice before switching off his phone and removing his SIM card. He then allegedly disappeared from his usual evening hangouts to avoid being traced. Before leaving, Biggie sent a message to his landlord, who was reportedly owed two months’ rent, with a warning not to lock him out again.
Zack made several attempts to contact Biggie through phone calls and text messages, asking him to return the money. However, Biggie did not respond and instead went on a spending spree, buying new sneakers and paying for VIP treatment at a local entertainment spot. The DCI used a viral phrase to highlight the incident and warn against treating mistakenly received money as a windfall.
Detectives eventually traced Biggie to the entertainment establishment and arrested him. When questioned, he claimed that he intended to refund the money after selling a pregnant cow at his rural home, with a proposed repayment plan that included proceeds from the unborn calf. The officers subsequently escorted him to police cells, where he awaited his court appearance.
The incident serves as a reminder that money received through an erroneous mobile money transaction does not automatically become the recipient’s property. Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, and the Penal Code contain provisions addressing the unlawful handling or conversion of funds and electronic transactions.
Safaricom customers can request a reversal of an erroneous M-Pesa transaction by forwarding the transaction message to 456 or using the available reversal channels. The DCI concluded its account with a warning to Kenyans against spending money mistakenly sent to their accounts, cautioning that what seems like a blessing could become evidence in court.
The DCI's warning emphasizes the importance of handling mistakenly received money with integrity and seeking to return it to its rightful owner. The agency's efforts aim to educate the public on the legal implications of mishandling such transactions and to encourage responsible behavior in such situations.
Key points
- The Kenyan authorities have warned against treating mistakenly received money as a windfall, citing legal implications for those who fail to return such funds.
- The incident highlights the importance of verifying recipient details before sending money via mobile transactions.
- Kenya's laws address the unlawful handling or conversion of funds and electronic transactions, with specific provisions for erroneous transactions.
