Detectives have apprehended a 25-year-old woman in connection with a SIM swap fraud operation that resulted in the theft of over Sh600,000. The suspect was detained on Monday, August 26, in the Kapchumbe area of Chepalungu, Bomet County, according to police reports.
The woman is allegedly involved in a series of SIM swap scams where unsuspecting Kenyans lost significant amounts of money, totaling up to Sh600,000. In these fraudulent schemes, cybercriminals hijack the victim’s cell phone number and use it to gain access to sensitive personal information and bank accounts through mobile banking apps on smartphones.
After successfully taking control of the swapped SIM card, the fraudsters insert it into their phones, access the victim’s financial accounts, and transfer funds to other compromised phone numbers. Once the money is withdrawn, the criminals often switch off the stolen SIM cards, making it difficult for detectives to trace their activities.
Investigations have revealed that many Kenyans have fallen victim to this sophisticated gang, and authorities are urging those affected to report to the Operations Branch at the DCI headquarters. In this latest arrest, police recovered four mobile phones and 27 SIM cards from the suspect.
During interrogation, it was revealed that the suspect had been evading capture after defrauding several victims. She has been linked to multiple cases of fraud, including Sh351,000 in Maua, Sh210,000 at Nyayo Police Station in Nairobi, Sh20,217 at Molo Police Station, and Sh27,000 at Central Police Station in Nairobi. While no cash was recovered, a signed inventory book was found at the scene. The suspect is currently being held at the station pending further action.
This arrest comes as police have highlighted that obtaining money by false pretenses, bank fraud, and land fraud are among the top economic crimes reported to the DCI. To prevent such incidents, officials recommend that individuals ensure their SIM cards have active SIM locks, use strong passwords, and refrain from sharing personal information on social media.
The true extent of the fraud remains unclear due to underreporting, with some victims reluctant to report incidents due to concerns about business risks, brand reputation, and embarrassment. The DCI has noted that some emerging economic crimes, recognized in other jurisdictions, have yet to be fully addressed in Kenya, presenting additional challenges as criminals continue to exploit regulatory loopholes.
