Detectives arrest suspected sim swap fraudster in Thika
By Mary Ouko, September 28, 2023
Detectives based in Thika have arrested a man believed to be a notorious sim swap fraudster terrorising residents.
According to a statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect identified as Emmanuel Kiprono was arrested moments after he presented himself to a Safaricom shop for sim replacement services.
Detectives stated that the suspect was caught using a forged Identity waiting card and a police abstract at the time of his arrest.
When the detectives interrogated the suspect, he led them to a house in Zimmerman where they found a mobile phone, forged police abstract forms and waiting cards belonging to different people, assorted sim replacement cards, several ID cards and an Mpesa till number application booklet.
“A notorious sim swap fraudster has been arrested by Thika-based detectives. The swindler was arrested right in the act after presenting himself to a Safaricom shop for sim replacement services while using a forged ID waiting card and a police abstract form purportedly issued by Central Police Station-Nairobi.
“Upon interrogation, Emmanuel Kiprono led detectives to a house in Zimmerman where a mobile phone used for sim registration, assorted sim replacement cards, forged police abstract forms and waiting cards bearing different names, an Mpesa till number application booklet, several ID cards among other items were recovered,” the statement reads in parts.
ARREST OF A SIM SWAP FRAUDSTER
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) September 28, 2023
A notorious sim swap fraudster has been arrested by Thika-based detectives. The swindler was arrested right in the act after presenting himself to a Safaricom shop for sim replacement services while using a forged ID waiting card and a police… pic.twitter.com/2mqhLTaoUI
According to DCI, Kiprono’s arrest comes days after another suspect believed to be part of the sim swap gang was arrested and arraigned in court.
The suspect, Everline Alulu Kimani was also arrested at a Safaricom shop as she sought similar services to Kiprono, at the time of her arrest, detectives recovered paper writings bearing confidential customer information from her house in Komarock, Nairobi.
“Kiprono and Alulu are believed to be a detachment of the infamous Mulot team who target individuals with large mobile money balances and once they take over the victims’ phone numbers, they are able drain off their accounts,” DCI added.