kent-Englandengland/”>Kent Police have swooped on two suspects believed to be behind a nationwide SIM-swapping scam that hijacked victims’ mobile numbers and raked in around £100,000.
SIM-Swappers Nabbed in Folkestone
The pair, a 27-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, were arrested after police raided five england/Folkestonefolkestone/”>Folkestone addresses including Benson Lane and clifton/”>clifton/”>Clifton Road on 18 September. They’ve been bailed as enquiries continue.
Officers recovered a stack of cash and several mobile phones linked to the fraud during the crackdown.
How the Scam Works
Fraudsters impersonate victims and trick mobile providers into issuing replacement e-SIMs. This hands them control of phone numbers, unlocking access to victims’ emails, bank apps, social media, and more.
Once inside, they change passwords and contact details to lock genuine owners out.
Victims Left Counting the Cost
- One victim had up to 30 fake loan applications submitted in their name.
- Another lost £600 in unauthorised PayPal credit transactions.
Kent Police tracked down the crooks using IP addresses and delivery information from online purchases tied to the crime.
Police Warn Public to Stay Vigilant
Warning signs of SIM-swap fraud include Suddensudden loss of mobile signal, account change alerts you didn’t initiate, and unexplained transactions. Experts urge everyone to use strong, unique passwords and keep devices updated.
For more advice on protecting yourself from personal fraud, visit Kent Police’s fraud advice page.
