A 25-year-old man in the United Kingdom has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for stealing nearly £200,000 ($265,000) worth of cryptocurrency through SIM-swapping fraud.
Ajay Shinjin, also known as AJ Marley Cruz, received more than £44,000 from the stolen funds and used the money to support a lavish lifestyle, including luxury holidays in Dubai, an expensive apartment, and gold-plated teeth grills, according to the City of London Police.
The case first came to light in November 2021, when telecommunications provider BT detected unauthorized activity involving customers’ phone numbers being transferred to SIM cards controlled by criminals. The technique, known as SIM swapping, allows attackers to take control of a victim’s phone number and intercept text messages, including one-time passwords used to secure online accounts.
By gaining control of victims’ phone numbers, Shinjin was able to access bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets protected by SMS-based verification. Information provided by BT showed that he received approximately £44,000 in his personal cryptocurrency account from two victims. He also helped facilitate the theft of another £138,000 in cryptocurrency from two additional victims.
Shinjin was arrested in November 2021 following the initial investigation. However, after investigators obtained further evidence, he was arrested again at Heathrow Airport in October 2023 while returning from Dubai.
He was charged with fraud by deception and handling the proceeds of crime. Shinjin pleaded guilty to both charges at Inner London Crown Court on September 28, 2026.
The court sentenced him to two and a half years in prison on October 8, 2026.
Simon Ardeman of the City of London Police said SIM-swap fraud was a sophisticated and increasingly concerning form of criminal activity. He added that the conviction demonstrated the serious consequences such offences can have for victims and reinforced that people using technology to commit fraud would be brought to justice.
The case highlights the risks associated with relying solely on SMS-based authentication to protect financial and cryptocurrency accounts. Criminals who successfully hijack a phone number may be able to intercept verification codes and use them to bypass account security.
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Security experts recommend using authenticator apps or hardware security keys where supported, setting a carrier account PIN to help prevent unauthorized SIM changes, and contacting a mobile provider immediately if a phone unexpectedly loses cellular service. Cryptocurrency users should also secure their accounts with strong, unique passwords and phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
UK Man Jailed for Stealing £200,000 in Crypto Through SIM-Swapping Fraud
