Ajay Shinjin, 25, of Marsh Wall, Canary Wharf, was handed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term on Oct. 8, 2026, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and transferring criminal property.
The conviction follows a sprawling SIM‑swap scheme that began in early November 2021 when BT flagged unauthorised SIM transfers. Criminals hijacked phone numbers and intercepted OTPs, opening wallets that were emptied into Shinjin’s crypto account.
Four victims lost a total of £199,800 between Nov. 2 and Nov. 7, 2021. One lost £40,000, of which £27,000 landed in Shinjin’s account; another lost £17,000, a third £8,000, and a fourth £130,000.
Shinjin was first detained at his flat in 2021, then rearrested at Heathrow in Oct. 2023 after investigators linked him to a Dubai trip that further exposed the trail of stolen funds.
Detective Constable Simon Ardeman of the City of London Police said, "By exploiting SIM‑swap technology, Shinjin accessed multiple crypto accounts and siphoned nearly £200,000, delivering a stark warning that such fraud will not go unpunished."
The sentencing is expected to deter similar attacks, as law‑enforcement agencies ramp up cooperation with telecoms to track SIM‑swap activity.