Kenyan music record label Grandpa Records, has distanced itself from individuals going round masquerading to be its representatives.
The record house – one of East Africa's biggest – has said that some corrupt persons have been illegally obtaining money from gullible artistes using it's name.
In a statement, Grandpa CEO and creative director Yusuf Noah aka Refigah, alleged that the said individuals work in cahoots with some “corrupt police officers” in a well choreographed extortion ring.
“It has come to our attention that some hooligans are masquerading as Grandpa Records' agents, promoters or managers and are going round swindling innocent artistes, asking for money [in order] to be signed at our stable,” said Refigah in part.
He added: “We at Grandpa do not charge any amount [for anyone] to be signed at our record label.
“Some raid cyber cafes and music shops, along with corrupt police officers, arresting anyone they find having any music from Grandpa Records in their computers.
“...on arrival at the police station one is asked to pay not less than Sh10, 000 to be freed. We would like to go on record and categorically state that none of this monies reaches the record label or its artistes.”
He said that the “con artists” operate in different towns across the country, but such cases have been rampant in the coastal region, including Mombasa CBD, Kilifi, Malindi and Mtwapa among others.
Similar cases, he added, have also been reported in Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret and Naivasha.
“They walk around with fake identification documents purporting to work for Grandpa Records. They even have a compilation of Grandpa's music on CD
“We urge the public to keep an eye out for these crooks and come forward to report anyone who tries to use Grandpa to con them their hard earned cash,” he added.
Refigah requested anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the said culprits to call the label on 0724339999 or 0734339999.