Police have arrested a suspected SIM-swap fraudster accused of targeting members of the public, particularly the elderly, by posing as a government official conducting Social Health Authority (SHA) registration.
The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Phyllis Njagi, was arrested during a joint intelligence-led operation by detectives from Kilifi South and Nyali.
The operation followed intelligence reports that a woman and two men had been moving across Mwea, Machakos, Kitui, Mwingi and other areas, allegedly posing as government employees carrying out SHA registration.
According to detectives, the suspects used the purported registration exercise to obtain victims’ personal information before allegedly swapping their SIM cards and gaining access to mobile money accounts and other digital wallets.
The stolen funds were then allegedly transferred to accounts controlled by the suspects.
Acting on the intelligence, detectives laid an ambush at Kwa Chief area in Mtwapa, where they arrested Njagi.
At the time of her arrest, Njagi was driving a Mazda CX-5, registration number KDT 012M, which was detained for further examination.
However, her suspected accomplice, John Mutesa Mango, escaped during the operation and remains at large.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of five insurance certificates bearing registration number KDT 012M, two duplicate insurance certificates for motor vehicle KDP 019N and three insurance certificates for motor vehicle KDS 150J.
Detectives also recovered two number-plate casings from the vehicle.
Police have appealed to members of the public to assist in tracing Mango, whose photograph has been released alongside that of Njagi.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts, or individuals who may have fallen victim to the alleged scheme, has been urged to report to the nearest police station.
Police have also cautioned the public against surrendering mobile phones, SIM cards, PINs, passwords, one-time passwords (OTPs) or other sensitive personal information to strangers claiming to conduct government registration exercises.
