UK Fraudster Jailed for 2½ Years After SIM‑Swap Heist Netting ₹2.5 Crore in Crypto

When you hear about crypto‑related crime, the stories often feel far‑off, like something out of a thriller. Yet, on October 8, 2026, a real‑life drama unfolded inside Inner London Crown Court as a 25‑year‑old named Ajay Shinjin, also known on the streets as “AJ Marley Cruz,” was handed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term.

Shinjin wasn’t just any petty thief. He was the mastermind behind a sophisticated SIM‑swap operation that, over a span of a few years, siphoned roughly £200,000 – that’s about ₹2.5 crore – from unsuspecting crypto investors. The method? He hijacked victims’ mobile numbers, transferred them onto SIM cards he controlled, and then intercepted the one‑time passwords (OTPs) that secured their digital wallets.

The fraud began to surface back in November 2021 when telecom giant BT flagged unusual activity on its network. Their investigation uncovered a pattern: a handful of phone numbers were being redirected to devices that didn’t belong to the original owners. That red flag, combined with diligent police work, eventually led to Shinjin and three other suspects.

Four victims fell prey to the scheme. One lost around £40,000, of which a staggering £27,000 landed straight into Shinjin’s crypto wallet. Another saw £17,000 disappear, a third lost £8,000 from a Coinbase account, and the biggest hit was a £130,000 loss that was also traced back to his accounts.

What did the stolen crypto turn into? Quite the ostentatious display, to be honest. Shinjin funneled more than £44,000 (≈ ₹56 lakh) into his personal coffers and splurged on a high‑end apartment in Canary Wharf, a series of luxury holidays in Dubai, and—perhaps the most eye‑catching indulgence—gold‑plated teeth grills. Yes, the very kind of bling you’d expect in a music video, not in a courtroom.

His run‑ins with the law weren’t limited to a single arrest. After an initial bust at his flat in 2021, he was nabbed again at Heathrow Airport in October 2023 when he returned from Dubai, this time with fresh evidence that sealed his fate.

During the hearing, Detective Constable Simon Ardeman of the City of London Police described the case as “a complex fraud that caused significant financial loss.” He warned that SIM‑swap fraud is a growing menace, emphasizing that technology can be weaponised by the unscrupulous, but also that the justice system is ready to act.

Shinjin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and to the illegal transfer of criminal property. The court’s decision—two and a half years behind bars—serves as a reminder that flashy spend‑thrills bought with stolen crypto will eventually catch up with the perpetrator.

For victims, the episode underscores the importance of stronger security measures beyond SMS‑based OTPs. For the rest of us, it’s a cautionary tale: even the most dazzling lifestyle can be built on a house of cards that crumbles when the law knocks.