Kenya - Police have found evidence of fraud on M-Pesa including Safaricom staff

[daily nation] Police have unearthed a racket where mobile phone subscribers have lost cash through a popular money transfer service.

The racket, which the police believe involves Safaricom officials and M-Pesa agents was uncovered in Bomet District after a man was arrested following a tip-off.

Area police boss George Ali Losku said the man, who was in prison warder uniform, had copies of 10 ID cards and sim cards of subscribers whose lines had been swapped.

Two exercise books containing the names of people whose lines had been swapped were also found on the man.

"This could be a well organised syndicate that involves some officials at Safaricom headquarters, M-Pesa agents and the fraudsters," Mr Losku said.

"It is interesting that the man we arrested had the pin numbers of subscribers whose lines have been swapped," he said.

Mr Losku appealed to people who may have lost money under these circumstances to report to the police.

He also urged subscribers not to disclose their pin numbers to M-Pesa agents.

Kenya: Police Uncover Phone Cash Transfer Racket