How easily can criminals empty a victim’s accounts simply by taking control of their phone number?
A Nairobi court has ordered two men to remain in custody for five days as detectives investigate an alleged Sh17.5 million SIM swap fraud targeting a victim’s mobile line and financial accounts.
The suspects, identified as Cyrus Mochache Bosire and Ronald Langat, were arrested in Utawala are alleged to be part of a syndicate involved in the scheme.
According to the information shared in the report, the suspects allegedly took control of the victim’s mobile line through a SIM swap before using access to the number to gain entry into her financial accounts.
The five day detention will allow detectives to conduct further investigations into the alleged fraud, including establishing how the suspects obtained control of the victim’s mobile line and whether other individuals were involved.
The case highlights the growing threat posed by SIM swap fraud, where criminals exploit mobile-number access to potentially bypass security measures and gain access to victims’ financial accounts.
The suspects have not been convicted of any offence and remain innocent until proven guilty in court.
