Police arrest seven in suspected SIM swap fraud, seize 5,000 sim cards

Police in Nakuru County have arrested seven suspects linked to an intricate mobile banking fraud scheme.

The operation was conducted in Kiamunyi area on Wednesday by a team led by Nakuru County Police Commander Mr. Peter Mwanzo CP.

"Seven suspects were found in possession of about 5,000 Safaricom and Airtel SIM cards, 14 Safaricom Mobicoms used for SIM registration, 50 mobile phones, 7 laptops among other items suspected to have been used to run the elaborate con game," National Police Service said in a statement on Thursday.

The security team also seized four motor vehicles and two motorcycles believed to be proceeds of their nefarious activities.

They are currently being held at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Headquarters awaiting processing and arraignment.

In December 2022, detectives arrested David Mutai alias Hillary Langat Matindwet believed to be the leader of the infamous Mulot SIM swap syndicate.

The fraudsters allegedly "hijack a victim’s cell phone number and use it to gain access to sensitive personal data and bank accounts through the mobile banking applications available on mobile phones."