Detectives in Kenya have arrested a woman who allegedly staged a fake robbery targeting her British boyfriend after luring him to her apartment under the guise of a “dream date.”
In a statement released on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) identified the suspect as Samira Mumbi Kiarie, also known as Samira. According to the DCI, she had been chatting with the British national online for months, charming him with promises of love and affection.
When the victim arrived at Samira’s apartment in Nyali, Mombasa, he was ambushed by two men — one claiming to be her enraged husband and the other pretending to be a police officer, complete with a fake ID.
“Blinded by affection, the man visited her posh apartment, unaware he was walking into a carefully scripted heist,” the DCI said.
Moments into the date, the two men burst in, accusing the Briton of breaking up Samira’s marriage. The fake officer then threatened to arrest him, coercing the terrified victim into transferring Sh800,000 to mobile numbers provided by the gang.
Once the money was sent, the trio calmly escorted the victim out before disappearing into the Mombasa night.
However, their plan soon fell apart. Acting on forensic intelligence, detectives tracked down and arrested Samira along with one of her accomplices, Paul Webster Mangeni, alias Paulo.
Investigations revealed that the pair are part of a wider syndicate that targets foreigners through dating sites, lures them to Airbnbs, and robs them of their money.
Both suspects are currently in custody awaiting arraignment, while the search continues for their third accomplice, who remains on the run.
