The Dark Side of Meeting Strangers: Inside Kenya’s “Devils Breath” (Scopolamine) Theft and Instagram Hijack
On 23rd October 2023, I was altered via WhatsApp about a distressing situation. A young woman who we will call "Mary Njoroge" for her privacy had fallen victim to an Instagram account hack. Being well-versed in the recovery process for such incidents I immediately sprang into action. After three days of diligent effort and communication with Instagram, we successfully reclaimed her Instagram account.
Intrigued by the circumstances of the hack I asked Mary to recount her experience. She had encountered a man online who was not only attractive and charismatic but also participated in political campaigns. Despite his persuasive behavior, Mary adhered to the proverb "Do not judge a book by its cover" and remained cautious. However, she agreed to meet him unaware of the drastic turn her life was about to take.
During their meeting, Mary began to feel disoriented and eventually lost consciousness. When she regained her senses after about 10 minutes, she discovered that her iPhone and cash were missing. It became apparent that the man was a cunning thief, exploiting the infamous "Devil's Breath" (Scopolamine) to rob unsuspecting young women of their iPhones he would then reset their iCloud password gaining control over their Instagram accounts. His final act was to attempt to sell the stolen iPhone and hijacked Instagram account.
The online dating scene is booming in kenya with the introduction of new dating apps such as Tinder and Hi5 where people get to meet with strangers. A lot of people join with the intent of getting a soul mate and making new friends, unfortunately to some, it doesn’t end up as they expect since the dating scene is filled with scammers, online predators, and thieves.
Regrettably in Kenya dating land scale is often influenced by financial status. Many young women are drawn to affluent men sometimes overlooking potential warning signs in the process of getting to know each other. This focus on wealth can at times blind them to the intentions of their suitors.
On the flip side men seeking genuine connections often fall victim to scams. They believe they are interacting with women only to discover they have been deceived by other men squandering as women. These unsuspecting men end up losing a significant amount of money in their quest for companionship.
WebMD refers to "Devil's breath" as scopolamine in its powder form. This substance is commonly utilized in the healthcare sector for the treatment of post-surgery, nausea and motion sickness. The side effects of scopolamine are quite pronounced, leading to disorientation and drowsiness. The user often reports feeling detached and foggy in their environment.
The onset of lethargy and drowsiness is swift, making it challenging for individuals to resist or counteract the directives of the perpetrator.
Furthermore, scopolamine induces amnesia and impairs judgement leaving victims with little to no recollection of the events that occurred while under its influence.
This impaired judgment also increases the vulnerability to manipulation and suggestion, potentially causing them to unknowingly adhere to perpetrators' requests.
Physical side effects include Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing, Blurred vision and dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat and Increased body temperatures, Dizziness, and Loss of coordination in severe cases of coma
The Predatory Method
Modus Operandi
The scum is pretty simple and it's something that one can hardly resist. The summers are usually in Nairobi City majorly and they always have a target. They pretend to have a problem but first they great by shaking your hand firmly and as they talk to you you slowly start to lose consciousness.
In a comprehensive investigation conducted by the star, a man, pseudonymously referred to as Ken shared his intrigue in the busy streets of Nairobi. He crossed paths with a couple who appeared to be lost and were seeking directions to a modern coast bus.
After Ken had successfully guided them they exchanged contact information. The last thing Ken recalls is a firm handshake. However, upon regaining consciousness, he discovered his phone, wallet, and camera were missing. This serves as a cautionary tale for city dwellers.
Brian (not his real name) was on his way to Westlands aboard a local minibus familiarly known as a matatu when he was approached by a stranger. This individual pretending to be unfamiliar with the area asked Brian about the current location. However, Brian was immediately put off by the overpowering, unpleasant smell from the man's breath.
Shortly Brain began to feel dizzy and weak but he managed to hold on to his phone. He changed seats fighting to stay conscious. In a fortunate twist of events. Brian was able to alert his fellow passengers to his situation. The suspicious man promptly exited the bus leaving Brian unscathed.
Identity theft
It is safe to say that it’s not easy to “scum” young girls than men. Both girls and men are vulnerable to different points of exploitation and generalizing that girls are more prone to these drug-associated robbers can make it difficult for the victims to come forward.
Exploitation on Instagram
Once the drug-associated robbers steal your phone they immediately access your Instagram account and change the password. They will then start DM'n your friends the ones that you frequently talk to and pretend that it is you and start asking for money then your friends give out the phone number where the money will be sent.
After exhorting money and they feel pretty satisfied they will now attempt to sell your Instagram account. According to Mary* who we have mentioned earlier, the drug-associated robber tried selling her account for KES 30, 000 fortunately we got it back before it was sold.
The Devastating Consequences
Financial loss
Once a victim has had his/her phone stolen they suffer financial consequences. The stolen phone cost thousands of KES and in addition, they lost their Instagram account with the hard economic times in kenya it can be very difficult for them to get newer phones, leading to a financial setback.
Consequently, drug-assisted robbers can access mobile banking apps where they borrow loans on behalf of the victim from banking apps to other non-banking loan apps. They can also use the compromised accounts to make unauthorized changes.
Identity Theft
The drug-assisted robber will use your email to gain access to sensitive photos and videos. For instance, we all know that Google usually backs up all photos and videos in the Google Photos app, now if the hacker has access to your email that means they can access all of your photos and videos including sensitive ones, and in the worst case scenario they can leak all your sensitive photos such as medical information to the public.
Emotional and Psychological Toll
Understandably, you may experience trauma, fear, and a lack of trust after everything that has happened to you. For instance, if a hacker borrowed money from your friends while pretending to be you, and your friends sent the money without knowing what is actually going on, it could lead to a breakdown in trust between you and your friends. This could ultimately damage your relationships and cause a lot of harm.
It can cause trauma and fear and your friends might not take the situation lightly, they can report the issue to the authorities which will lead to an arrest and you might serve jail time or be released on cash bail.
Protecting yourself and Others
Safety Tips
It's important to stay vigilant before you meet someone you have never met before and look out for all the red flags. Safety tips for protecting yourself include;
Before the meeting
Do your due diligence by researching the person you are about to meet through social media, mutual friends, or professional networks. Verify their identity through photos by doing a Google Reverse Image Search.
Make sure you meet in public in a well-lit environment with plenty of people and you should avoid isolated locations and scheduled areas, It is also important to share your location with your family about your meeting plans and share your location
Be cautious about the food and drinks, you should always avoid drinks from strangers especially if they seem suspicious or they seem to insist on offering something. Come when you are full or stick to bottled beverages that you open yourself.
During the meeting
"Always trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, even in the slightest, don't hesitate to excuse yourself and leave immediately without notice. Keep your bag and valuables close to you at all times, and ensure that your bag is closed. Avoid leaving your phone unattended on the table or in a place where it can be easily accessed by others."
Always stay alert and avoid being distracted by your phone or other activities pay close attention to your surroundings and the person you are meeting.
After the meeting
Always stay connected with your friends or family after the meeting is over and you are back home safely if you suspect you have been drugged or scummed report immediately to law enforcement.
Online Awareness
Identifying a suspicious profile can be downright difficult especially now that most of these drug-assisted Robbers dress up so neatly and know how to pretend and convenience on social media. Some of the red flag profiles include;
Too perfect to be true immaculate photos, unrealistic bios, and excessive likes and following always mask fake profiles and you should be wary of accounts lacking genuine content or interaction. You should also look for discrepancies in information like age, location, or interests by checking if the profile pictures appear on other accounts with different names since some can easily impersonate genuine accounts.
If the person you are set to meet is pushy about meeting up you should proceed with caution. If the profile lacks details or hobbies they could be hiding malicious intent, by so doing you should look for genuine engagement and passions, not the obvious “love music, love watching movies". This is a sign of someone who isn’t there to make real connections
Lastly, be wary of dormant accounts that suddenly become super-active when you follow them or they start liking all photos to give tra you an appreciation for liking your photos and then eventually manipulate you into messaging them
Reporting and Seeking Help
In case you ever find yourself in a situation where you have been duped by drug-assisted robbers you should take necessary precautions by reporting to the nearest police station to get an OB number or contact the Kenya Police through their email or phone number
- Phone number-254-020-3341411
- Email-infor@kenyapolice.go.keHotlines-999/112/911
- Social media- X (formerly Twitter), Facebook
Alternatively, you can contact the DCI through their hotlines at
Conclusion
Before meeting anyone new online always take precautions. Do your research double-check their identity, and let close friends and family know where you will be. Sharing your live location can add an extra layer of safety.
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