Detectives have arrested eight people in connection with a suspected SIM swap scheme that allegedly led to the loss of more than Sh1.2 million from an M-Pesa operator in Marsabit.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the group was intercepted at the Merille Barrier in Marsabit South while travelling in a white Toyota Probox.
The arrests followed intelligence received by detectives regarding the group's suspected criminal activities.
Preliminary investigations indicate the individuals allegedly posed as customers at an M-Pesa shop in Marsabit Town, where they are believed to have deceived the operator before swapping the M-Pesa SIM card.
The DCI said the suspected fraudulent SIM swap gave unauthorised access to the complainant's bank account, resulting in the loss of more than Sh1.2 million.
The eight suspects and the vehicle were escorted to Marsabit Police Station, where they remain in custody as detectives continue with investigations.
The DCI urged M-Pesa agents and members of the public to remain vigilant against similar schemes, warning that fraudsters often rely on deception and coordinated distractions to execute their plans.
The agency advised agents never to surrender their SIM cards, mobile phones or M-Pesa handsets to customers under any circumstances.
"Fraudsters often work in groups, creating distractions while executing their scheme," the DCI said.
It further cautioned that unusual customer requests involving an agent's mobile phone or SIM card should be treated with suspicion.
"If a customer makes unusual requests or insists on handling your phone, treat it as a red flag," the DCI said.
Detectives said investigations into the suspected fraud are ongoing as they seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
SIM swap fraud is a form of identity theft in which criminals fraudulently transfer a victim's mobile phone number to a SIM card under their control.
Once the swap is successful, the fraudsters are able to receive one-time passwords (OTPs), transaction alerts and verification codes sent to the victim's phone, allowing them to access mobile money wallets and linked bank accounts.
Cybersecurity experts say fraudsters often operate in groups and use deception, distraction or forged identity documents to gain temporary access to a victim's SIM card or convince mobile service providers to activate a replacement SIM.
They then move quickly to transfer funds before the victim realises their phone line has been disconnected or loses network service.
Authorities have urged M-Pesa agents and mobile phone users to remain vigilant by never handing over their phones or SIM cards to strangers, safeguarding personal identification details and immediately reporting any sudden loss of network signal or suspicious account activity to their mobile service provider and bank.
