The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has issued a warning about new scam activities, where scammers call people claiming they must pay to join an organization called “Illuminati Rwanda.” They further threaten that failure to comply will result in a family member being sacrificed as part of the ritual.
Reliable information obtained reveals that scammers often mislead people into believing that members of this “Illuminati Rwanda” organization are extremely wealthy and possess supernatural powers from the underworld. These scammers mostly use emotional manipulation, promising wealth or quick, high returns to lure individuals into paying fees to join.
The scammers typically gather basic information about their targets before sending alarming voice messages or videos, claiming that unless they join the Illuminati, one of their family members will die as a sacrifice. These videos, which are often taken from horror movies, are designed to invoke fear and panic in their victims.
RIB spokesperson B. Thierry Murangira said that some people have already fallen victim to these scams, and they have concrete examples of individuals affected by this trickery.
He said, “One example is a parent who was contacted through social media by a so-called ‘Illuminati Rwanda’ agent. The agent told them they must join the organization, paying a fee of 26,000 Rwandan Francs (RWF) to receive wealth from the underworld. The parent was told that if they didn’t pay, their second child would be sacrificed instead.”
The parent explained that after receiving terrifying messages and videos, they were persuaded to pay the fee, believing that doing so would prevent the sacrifice of their child.
The scammers also told the parent that their office was located in Gisozi, and that they could join the organization through one of two membership categories. The first category required a payment of 26,000 RWF, while the second category, for those with fewer resources, required 13,600 RWF. Once registered, the victim was promised an instant transfer of 3,200,000 RWF via Mobile Money, and was given a date for the sacrifice and ritual to complete their initiation.
As part of the scam, the scammers told the victims that the sacrifice could include a person, sheep, goat, rabbit, pig, cow, or chicken. They also imposed restrictions on what the victim could do with the wealth they would allegedly receive, including prohibiting the consumption of the sacrifice’s meat, giving tithes in churches from the money, or owning more than three houses or cars.
In a statement on its official website, RIB urged the public to be cautious and avoid giving scammers any attention, as it only allows them to manipulate people’s emotions and trick them into losing their money. RIB emphasized the importance of being vigilant and not trusting anyone who promises wealth or supernatural powers.
The bureau also reminded people that any individual involved in such scams could face legal consequences, as these activities are against the law. RIB reiterated its call for citizens to remain cautious, avoid engaging with these scammers over the phone, and refrain from providing personal information to ensure that such fraudsters are held accountable.
