Delhi Police Bust International Illegal SIM Box Racket, Exposing ₹100-Crore Cyber Fraud Network with Links Across Five Countries

The Delhi Police, through its elite Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations Unit, has uncovered a sprawling international cybercrime syndicate operating an illegal “SIM box network,” accused of defrauding victims across India of more than ₹100 crore.

Investigators say the network has cross-border linkages extending to China, Nepal, Cambodia, Taiwan, and Pakistan.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Vineet Kumar said the gang was operating from multiple locations in the national capital, including Goyla Dairy, Qutub Vihar, Dinpur, and Shahbad Dairy.

Following a series of targeted raids, the police arrested a man named Shashi Prasad, who had rented a room specifically to house the illegal SIM box devices.

Interrogation of Shashi Prasad led investigators to another key accused, Parminder Singh.

According to the DCP, both men worked as drivers by profession, yet their monthly earnings exceeded ₹1 lakh—an income level that immediately raised suspicion and pointed towards their involvement in organised cyber fraud.

As the probe widened, the police identified a Taiwanese national, Tsung Chen, who allegedly used SIM boxes in both Delhi and Mohali.

Further action led to arrests in Coimbatore, where another SIM box device was recovered, indicating the geographical spread of the operation across multiple Indian states.

The investigation has now revealed what police describe as a crucial breakthrough: the suspected mastermind of the network is a Pakistani handler.

DCP Vineet Kumar said that a SIM card recovered from Mohali was traced through its IMEI number to a Pakistani SIM service provider named “Fema,” clearly establishing a link to Pakistan-based operators coordinating the fraud.

How SIM Boxes Were Used

Police explained that a SIM box is a sophisticated device capable of remotely operating multiple physical SIM cards and e-SIMs.

Cybercriminals use these devices to mask the source of calls, making international scam calls appear as domestic ones and thereby evading detection by law enforcement agencies.

‘Digital Arrest’ Scam Modus Operandi

The gang specialised in online fraud by impersonating officers from anti-terror agencies.

Victims were falsely accused of links to terrorism and threatened with immediate arrest under a so-called “digital arrest” procedure.

Investigators said the accused terrified people by claiming their involvement in major incidents such as the Pahalgam attack and the Delhi blasts, among other alleged terror cases.

Under the fear of arrest and legal action, victims were coerced into transferring large sums of money to accounts controlled by the syndicate.

Police say this tactic allowed the gang to siphon off crores of rupees before victims realised they had been duped.

The Delhi Police said further investigations are underway to identify additional members of the network, trace money trails, and coordinate with international agencies to dismantle the remaining cross-border infrastructure of the racket.

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