Three arrested as DCI dismantles cyber fraud ring targeting bank accounts in Meru

Three suspects are in custody after detectives uncovered and broke up a cybercrime network accused of breaking into email accounts, carrying out SIM swap fraud and illegally accessing victims’ mobile banking platforms to steal money from bank accounts.

The operation, carried out by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations working together with a Meru-based team, led to the arrest of Zachaous Cheriot, Ambrore Kibet and Silas Rono at a hideout where they were allegedly operating from.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the DCI said the suspects were tracked down through forensic leads that guided investigators directly to their location in Meru, in what authorities described as a coordinated crackdown on digital fraud groups targeting unsuspecting members of the public.

Investigators say the trio had been running a coordinated cyber fraud operation involving hacking into email accounts, swapping SIM cards and gaining unauthorized access to mobile banking systems, allowing them to drain funds from victims’ accounts.

“A team of detectives drawn from DCI Headquarters, in collaboration with their Meru-based counterparts, has dismantled a notorious three-man cyber fraud syndicate that has been hacking into emails, swapping SIM cards and bleeding Kenyans' bank accounts dry,” the statement read.

During the raid, detectives recovered several items believed to have been used in the illegal activities. These included “8 assorted mobile phones, 39 SIM Cards, 42 SIM Card Plates and a Laptop,” which have been taken in as exhibits as investigations continue.

The suspects are being held in custody as they undergo processing ahead of their court appearance.

According to investigators, the breakthrough followed detailed forensic tracing and digital evidence analysis that connected the suspects to a series of cyber fraud incidents reported in different parts of the region.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said it remains committed to tackling rising cases of cybercrime, warning that individuals using digital tools to defraud citizens will be pursued and prosecuted.

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations remain relentless in the pursuit of digital mercenaries who use technology to prey on hardworking Kenyans,” the agency said.

Police have also urged members of the public to be more alert when handling mobile money and banking transactions, while confirming that investigations are ongoing to establish whether the suspects are linked to a wider fraud network.