MAKERERE UNIVERSITY, KAMPALA – Police at Makerere University are hunting for a fraudster who disappeared with Shs Two million belonging to a new university student (fresher), who gave it to him after he offered to miraculously double it.
The amount in disappearance was my tuition fees, explained the student.
Reports from the University police indicate that fraudsters operating within the university, being very conversant with the university systems and processes, have been targeting new students whom they defraud since the resumption of studies.
A police officer who preferred anonymity said the university police have registered more than five incidents of the nature, mostly from fresh students being conned by unknown people either by claiming to be helping them in banking issues or by befriending them and later defrauding through job offer scams and other tricks.
“When they see you that you’re new here trying to get around in the university, they immediately approach you and befriend you trying to help or even offering some job and later they take your money,” said an officer. “They have virtually one script they are using and we have been receiving such complaints at least twice a week.”
According to the officer, some students who have fallen prey decide not to report for fear of being exposed.
“Recently one student was conned by the a scammer of about 2 million with a promise of doubling the tuition money and now the fraudster has disappeared, and we’re still hunting him, but other are not reporting to us,” said the officer.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said they are still trying to have such criminals arrested because they know all the university systems and processes around.
He cautions students to be aware of such people who include former students who have remained hiding in and around hostels when their main job is conning.
Onyango explains that police has since decided to beef-up security within the University premises, and some residence hostels where cases of burglary have been reported.
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