Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a suspected SIM-swap fraudster accused of stealing Sh450,500 from a woman's M-Pesa account in a sophisticated mobile money scam.
The suspect was arrested by officers from the DCI's Operation Support Unit (OSU) following investigations into the disappearance of funds from the victim's account.
According to investigators, the victim left Kenya in January 2019 for the United States after securing a job opportunity.
Before travelling, she enrolled her Safaricom line in the Daima programme, which allows customers living abroad to retain their mobile numbers and access M-Pesa services for an extended period.
The line reportedly functioned normally until May 24, 2024, when all cellular and M-Pesa services suddenly stopped working.
Upon returning to Kenya in December 2024, the woman discovered that her SIM card had been fraudulently replaced without her knowledge or authorisation.
Further checks revealed that the M-Pesa account, which she expected to hold approximately Sh450,500, had been nearly emptied, leaving a balance of only Sh18.
Investigations established that on October 15, 2024, the money had been transferred from the victim's account in two separate transactions.
"Investigations revealed that Sh450,500 was transferred in two transactions to a number registered under the name of OL*," the DCI said.
Detectives launched a manhunt that eventually led them to an estate in Nairobi, where the suspect was traced and arrested.
During a search of his residence, officers recovered two mobile phones and six SIM card holders, which are believed to be relevant to the ongoing investigations.
The DCI said the arrest marks a significant breakthrough in efforts to combat SIM-swap fraud, a growing cybercrime in which fraudsters illegally take control of victims' phone numbers to access mobile money accounts and other sensitive services.
DCI said the suspect is now in police custody undergoing processing and is expected to be arraigned in court once investigations are completed.
Authorities have urged mobile phone users to regularly monitor their accounts and immediately notify service providers if they suspect unauthorised SIM replacement or fraudulent transactions.
According to DCI, investigations are continuing to establish whether the suspect acted alone or was part of a wider fraud network targeting mobile money users.
