Three More SIM Card Swap Scammers Arrested as Crackdown Intensifies

Detectives from Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested three more suspected SIM Card swap scammers.

Joseph Kuria Kariuki, Grace Wanjira and Meshack Okoth Okuta were arrested on Tuesday in connection with a scam that has seen Kenyan lose millions of shillings.

The three are suspected to have defrauded a Kiambu MCA of Sh1.9 million after hacking into his phone.

“The trio were arrested in connection with the recent case that saw a Kiambu MCA lose Sh1.9 million shillings. One of the key suspects is a Safaricom Customer Care Executive who has since been dismissed,” Police said in a statement.

“Detectives are closing in on leads that may lead to the arrest two more suspects one of them an employee with a local bank where the complainant had banked his money,” 

Police have urged Kenyans “to refrain from giving personal data to individuals claiming to be calling from mobile telephone firms or responding to strange calls or messages asking for the same.”

Last week, a Safaricom staff, Maurice Musoti and a Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) IT student, Rian Obaga Nyagaka were arrested in connection to the scam.

The two were found in possession of 2,160 unused Safaricom SIM cards, 44 used SIM cards, five till agent numbers, three MPESA Safaricom booklets and an internet booster router.