UK Man Sentenced for Orchestrating £200,000 Crypto SIM-Swap Fraud
A 25-year-old man from the UK, Ajay Shinjin, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his involvement in a sophisticated SIM-swap fraud that resulted in the theft of nearly £200,000 worth of cryptocurrency. Shinjin, also known as AJ Marley Cruz, used his share of the ill-gotten gains to fund a lavish lifestyle, including luxury holidays in Dubai, a high-end apartment, and even gold-plated teeth.
The sentencing took place at Inner London Crown Court on October 8, 2026, following Shinjin's guilty plea on September 28, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and one count of transferring criminal property.
How the SIM-Swap Scheme Operated
The complex fraud came to light in early November 2021, when telecommunications company BT identified unauthorized activity affecting its systems. Criminals, including Shinjin, exploited a technique known as SIM swapping, where victims' legitimate telephone numbers were illicitly transferred to SIM cards controlled by the fraudsters.
Once control of a victim's phone number was established, the perpetrators could intercept one-time passcodes (OTPs) sent via text message. These critical codes then granted them unauthorized access to victims' online banking accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, enabling them to drain funds.
Shinjin's Role and Lavish Spending
Investigation data provided by BT linked Shinjin to four specific SIM-swap devices used in the scheme. Although the total stolen amount neared £200,000, Shinjin personally received over £44,000 (approximately 56 lakhs INR) of the stolen funds. This money was quickly funneled into supporting an extravagant lifestyle, as detailed in a press release by the City of London Police.
The victims reported their losses during the first week of November 2021. One victim had approximately £40,000 in cryptocurrency stolen, with roughly £27,000 subsequently transferred to Shinjin's personal crypto account. Another victim lost about £17,000, which was also traced to Shinjin's digital wallet. He further facilitated the theft of £8,000 from a Coinbase account and a significant £130,000 from a fourth victim, with these funds being transferred elsewhere.
Arrests and Conviction
Shinjin was initially arrested at his flat in 2021. He was later re-arrested in October 2023 at Heathrow Airport upon returning from Dubai, following the emergence of additional evidence. During police interviews, Shinjin chose to provide no comment to all questions.
Detective Constable Simon Ardeman, from the City of London Police, emphasized the severity of the crime. "This was a complex and calculated fraud that caused significant financial harm to a number of victims. By deliberately exploiting SIM-swap technology, Shinjin was able to gain access to cryptocurrency accounts and steal nearly £200,000 from multiple victims’ accounts." Ardeman added that the conviction sends a clear message that those who use technology for fraud will face justice.