Den Of Thriving Criminality: Kamiti Prison Call Centre
Written by RadioVuna on April 18, 2022
Although this isn’t an actual call center, we’ve given it the moniker Kamiti Prison Call Center because of the events that take place here.
The Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in Nairobi, Kenya, has an illegal call center run by prisoners.
In all, there are almost 2500 inmates housed here, and a closer look reveals a life of crime that has an outsized impact on society.
The convergence of technological innovation and criminality in Kenya’s most notorious jail means that you may have been a target at some time.
There is a lot of activity in a specific “Block A” of the jail, and it might easily be mistaken for a call center. Each and every one of the prisoners caring to their ‘customers’.
It’s an actual industrial park, Hassan’s source informs him, and in order to get access to it, one must never be idle for fear of being branded a traitor.
A stroll through downtown Nairobi’s streets, where the ‘call agents’ receive their phones, leads to a specific model that’s popular with the inmates like candy.
Itel, a Chinese company, has developed a phone with special characteristics that match the demands of its conglomerate, including a magic voice. Using this, a person may transform their voice to sound like a guy, a lady, or a kid while making a phone conversation.
David Tett, a 15-year prisoner, has perfected the skill of the game and even fakes a foreign accent.
During the phone conversation, he establishes a rapport with his customer and plays along until he begins asking for money.
An insider tells the New York Times, “Ikifika hapo anamuambia amefika Lodwar amekwama na ako na MasterCard, na mafuta na hana cash.”
Once you transfer the money, you and the foreigner have established a new connection.
Many Kenyans don’t pay much mind to the bizarre messages they get. Messages like “Hello, Madam Grace” and “Good morning.” I used Western Union REF No. xxxx to send 4.8 million dollars.
To lure unsuspecting victims into sending money to an unknown party, these schemes are implemented behind the scenes in a ‘call center.’
The victims are not limited to the people of Kenya. Many Somalis from Mogadishu and the neighboring regions such as Somaliland, Puntland and Kismayo also fall victim to the scam and transfer hundreds, if not millions, to the United States in quest of better opportunities.
Inmates and prison guards alike would enjoy events like these as the nation struggles with young unemployment.
It seems that each warder at this block makes roughly Ksh.5000 per day, and after they’ve taken down a victim, the celebration continues with some of the warders using narcotics.
The remainder of those who weren’t so fortunate today are glued to their phones as they search for the next victim. When you’re on the receiving end, how do you feel about it?
It’s been reported that unsuspecting Kenyans are tricked into thinking that local radio stations are calling them to collect their winnings, and that in the blink of an eye, the fraudsters have taken their money from the ATM.
According to the information received in real time, they have a team ready to take action in the event of an emergency.
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