A man accused of carrying out a SIM-swap fraud scheme that drained Sh450,500 from a woman’s M-Pesa account has been arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The suspect, identified as Oscar Livondo, is currently in police custody and is awaiting arraignment in court.
According to investigators, the victim had left Kenya in January 2019 after securing a job opportunity in the United States.
Before travelling, she took steps to ensure that her Safaricom line would remain active while she was abroad.
She enrolled in the company’s Daima programme, which allows customers living outside the country to keep their lines active for an extended period even when they are not connected to the local network.
For several years, the arrangement worked without any issues. However, on May 24, 2024, the victim suddenly lost access to all cellular and M-Pesa services linked to her phone number.
At the time, she was still outside the country and was unable to immediately determine the cause of the problem.
When she eventually returned to Kenya in December 2024, she discovered that her SIM card had been swapped without her knowledge or approval. The shocking discovery prompted her to check her M-Pesa account balance.
She expected to find about Sh450,500 in her account. Instead, she found that only Sh18 remained. The loss led her to report the matter, triggering investigations by detectives.
The probe uncovered a suspected fraud scheme in which the money was allegedly transferred out of the victim’s account on October 15, 2024. Investigators established that the Sh450,500 had been moved through two separate transactions to a phone number registered under the name Oscar Livondo.
Armed with this information, detectives from the Operation Support Unit launched a search for the suspect. Their efforts eventually led them to Ngumba Estate, where Livondo was tracked down and arrested.
During a search of his residence, detectives recovered two mobile phones and six SIM card holders, items that are expected to form part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities say the arrest marks a significant step in the case as they continue gathering evidence.
