Rwandan youth conned over fake conference

bbc

Cyuzuzo Samba

BBC Great Lakes, Nairobi

BBCCopyright: BBC

The young people had each handed over $5 (£3.90) to register for the conference

Rwandan police are investigating how thousands of young Rwandans were conned into paying a registration fee for a wealth and fitness conference that never happened.

The young people turned up at a conference centre in the capital, Kigali, to find that their $5 (£3.90) online registration fee was for nothing.

The venue was full with at least 2,000 hopeful participants but no organisers could be found.

Speaking to the BBC, some of those who turned up said they were told they would receive $197 for taking part.

The police and youth ministry arrived at the venue once news of the con had spread on social media.

Youth Minister Rose Mary Mbabazi told the unfortunate participants that they had been the victims of a scam. She added that this should be a lesson for those who go for “empty promises of easy money” online.

The police assured the frustrated young people that they would pursue the case and get the fees returned.