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Eight people have been arrested over an alleged SIM swap fraud that investigators say resulted in the theft of more than Sh1.2 million from an M-Pesa agent in Marsabit.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects were apprehended at the Merille Barrier in Marsabit South while travelling in a white Toyota Probox following intelligence reports linking them to the suspected crime.
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Investigators believe the group visited an M-Pesa outlet in Marsabit Town pretending to be customers before allegedly tricking the attendant into surrendering the M-Pesa SIM card.
The DCI said the fraudulent SIM swap enabled the suspects to gain unauthorised access to the victim’s linked bank account, leading to the loss of over Sh1.2 million.
The eight suspects, together with the vehicle they were using, were taken to Marsabit Police Station, where they remain in custody as investigations continue.
The agency has cautioned M-Pesa agents and the public to be alert to similar scams, noting that fraudsters often work in coordinated groups and create distractions while carrying out their schemes.
The DCI advised agents never to hand over their phones, SIM cards or M-Pesa devices to customers under any circumstances.
“Fraudsters often operate in groups, creating distractions as they execute their plan,” the agency warned.
It also urged agents to treat any unusual request involving their phone or SIM card as suspicious.
“If a customer insists on handling your phone or makes unusual requests, consider it a warning sign,” the DCI said.
Detectives said inquiries are ongoing to establish the full details of the alleged fraud.
SIM swap fraud is a type of identity theft in which criminals illegally transfer a victim’s mobile phone number to a SIM card under their control.
Once the transfer is completed, the fraudsters can receive one-time passwords (OTPs), verification codes and transaction alerts intended for the victim, allowing them to access mobile money accounts and linked bank accounts.
Cybersecurity experts say such scams are often carried out by organised groups that rely on deception, distraction or fake identification documents to gain temporary control of a victim’s SIM card or persuade mobile service providers to activate a replacement SIM.
The suspects typically move quickly to transfer money before the victim notices that their phone has lost network coverage or been disconnected.
Authorities have urged M-Pesa agents and mobile phone users to protect their devices and personal information, avoid handing over phones or SIM cards to strangers, and immediately report unexpected network loss or suspicious account activity to both their mobile service provider and bank.
