A suspect has been arrested in connection with allegedly stealing airtime worth R5 million from MTN.
In a statement, the operator - Africa's largest - says it worked closely with the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) to arrest the individual. "The arrest comes after an intense internal investigation that led to the arrest in the early hours [of] today."
The matter is now sub-judice and MTN can not divulge further details regarding the case, it says. However, 702 reports that the person hacked into MTN's computer system to misappropriate the airtime.
This is the second time perpetrators have attempted to swindle MTN out of airtime. In September 2011, a joint investigation between MTN, SAPS and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), led to the arrest of two of MTN's contract employees and four members of the public.
MTN said at the time that the suspects allegedly sold new prepaid SIM cards fraudulently loaded with airtime to members of the public at "exorbitantly discounted amounts", defrauding the operator of the value of the airtime.
Today's arrest follows 18 months of continuous monitoring, says Lilly Zondo, GM of business risk management at MTN SA. MTN is satisfied to that the "negative impact that may have been posed by the suspect is done away with," she added.
Zondo noted that cybercrime is on the increase globally and, for MTN, the arrest is a big "breakthrough". "We have been proactive in our approach, and this is testament to prudent work done."
Earlier this month, another collaboration between MTN and the police led to the arrest of a key suspect said to be one of the kingpins in the recent spate of SIM swap fraud.
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