Mulot SIM Swap Leader Who Robbed MP Ksh900K Arrested

This is a heinous act in which phone scammers hijack a victim’s cell phone number and use it to gain access to sensitive personal data and bank accounts through the mobile banking applications available on mobile phones.

In a recent case leading to the arrest of two of his accomplices, the scammers had siphoned Ksh941,000 from a bank account belonging to a legislator from Rift Valley, who was out of the country on official duties between December 2 and 3 this month. 

"Following the incident reported by the legislator, one of Mutai’s lieutenants Justus Rono, 28, was tracked down by detectives and arrested in the fraudsters paradise of Mulot, a dusty town shared between Bomet and Narok counties. 

"Rono, who disguises himself as a boda boda rider is one of the main suspect’s trusted allies, who ferries him on his bike discreetly to avoid detection from our hawk-eyed sleuths. Images of Rono showing off wads of cash following some of the successful operations that they have conducted were also obtained by the detectives," the DCI stated in part.

A second suspect identified as Kevin Kiplagat was also apprehended at Sigor market Bomet county, in the latest arrest of SIM swap fraudsters who sought refuge in the infamous trading centre that has gained notoriety for harbouring cons. 

The fraudsters who have also perfected the act of impersonating senior government officials recently obtained an unspecified amount of money from unsuspecting members of the public, after posing as a senior state official who would influence employment and business opportunities at a fee. 

The suspects who have registered multiple SIM cards using details from fraudulently acquired identification documents, deposit the siphoned money to different mobile money accounts, in a bid to make it difficult for detectives to track them down.  

In most instances, the fraudsters working in cahoots with rogue banking officials pose as customer care agents from banks and then ask for a customer’s account number, PIN, and details of the last transaction on the targeted account. They then use the details to duplicate the victims’ accounts and after a successful SIM swap, the account is swept clean in a matter of seconds. 

According to various campaign posters shared online after DCI elite unit disclosed his identity, the suspect reportedly vied for a Member of the County Assembly (MCA) seat in the August polls.

The suspect, who initially sought the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket; lost the party primaries- forcing him to decamp to United Democratic Party (UDP).

SIM cards. /FILE