Three fraudsters who masterminded a £220,000 scam using a SIM farm to send fraudulent texts and calls have been sentenced to prison. Londoners Emanuel Oxford-Faparusi (23), Syrus Johnson-Faparusi (25), and Uchechukwu Orjih (21) worked together to trick victims into handing over money and banking details between August 2022 and March 2024. The fraudsters posed as bank representatives, convincing customers their accounts were compromised and urging them to transfer funds into a “safe account,” which was actually controlled by the criminals.
After receiving the victims’ card information, the trio used the details to make unauthorized online purchases and funnel the money into mule accounts they controlled, from which they withdrew the stolen funds. In total, they defrauded victims of £223,183.53.
The trio was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court to a combined total of six years and nine months in prison, following a thorough investigation by the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), a specialist police unit funded by the banking industry.
During the investigation, police recovered two SIM farms from Oxford-Faparusi’s home, along with numerous computers and phones that contained phishing website templates, smishing software, and over 160,000 sets of personal and financial data from victims.
Orjih was linked to the fraud operation through communications with Oxford-Faparusi. Stolen personal data and scripts used to carry out the fraud were also found in Orjih’s possession.
Oxford-Faparusi was sentenced to 42 months in prison, Johnson-Faparusi received 18 months, and Orjih received a 21-month sentence, suspended for two years. All three were also handed Criminal Behaviour Orders, lasting five years.
Detective Constable David Hughes commented, “These fraudsters worked in unison to steal over £220,000 by sending large volumes of fraudulent messages and calls to manipulate customers into giving away their banking details. These criminals are deceitful and will stop at nothing to steal from hard-working people. We are grateful for the cooperation between the police and the banking industry, which has helped to prevent further harm to society.”