Detectives have arrested a 37-year-old woman suspected of leading a criminal gang involved in SIM swap fraud following an operation in Mtwapa, Mombasa.
Phyllis Njagi was apprehended in the Kwa Chief area by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, working alongside detectives from Kilifi South and Nyali.
Police suspect that the gang defrauded members of the public by impersonating government officials conducting Social Health Authority registration. Elderly people were reportedly among their main targets, with the suspects travelling to Mwea, Machakos, Kitui and Mwingi in search of victims.
Investigators believe the suspects collected personal details under the pretext of registering people for the government health programme. They allegedly used the information to obtain replacement SIM cards, take control of victims’ mobile money accounts and digital wallets, and transfer their funds to accounts they controlled.
Njagi was arrested while driving a Mazda CX-5 with registration number KDT 012M. The vehicle was impounded for further investigations.
Her alleged accomplice, John Mutesa Mango, reportedly escaped during the police operation, prompting detectives to launch a search for him.
During a search of Njagi’s vehicle, officers recovered five insurance certificates associated with registration number KDT 012M, two duplicate certificates for vehicle KDP 019N, and three certificates for vehicle KDS 150J. Two number plate casings were also seized.
The DCI has urged the public to help trace Mango, releasing his photograph alongside Njagi’s to assist with identification. Anyone with information about his whereabouts or possible victims of the suspected fraud can report to the nearest police station or contact the DCI through #FichuaKwaDCI.
Authorities have cautioned Kenyans against sharing their mobile phones, SIM cards, security PINs, passwords or OTP codes with strangers claiming to be government registration officials.