Detectives from the Operation Support Unit (OSU) at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters have arrested a suspect linked to a SIM-swap fraud case in which Sh450,500 was stolen from a victim’s M-Pesa account.
According to the DCI, the scheme dates back to January 2019 when the victim travelled to the United States in pursuit of a job opportunity.
Before leaving, she enrolled her Safaricom line in the Daima programme to ensure it remained active for M-Pesa transactions while she was abroad.
The SIM card reportedly remained functional until May 24, 2024, when all cellular and M-Pesa services suddenly stopped.
The victim later returned to Kenya in December 2024, only to discover that her line had been illegally swapped without her consent.
Upon checking her account, she found that her expected balance of approximately Sh450,500 had been drained, leaving only Sh18.
Investigations by detectives revealed that on October 15, 2024, the funds were transferred in two separate transactions to a mobile number registered under the name of the suspect, identified as Oscar Livondo.
Following months of investigations, detectives tracked Livondo to Ngumba Estate, where he was arrested.
A search of his residence led to the recovery of two mobile phones and six SIM card holders believed to be linked to fraudulent activities.
The suspect is currently in custody undergoing processing ahead of his arraignment in court as investigations continue.
