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Villagers' IDs Fuel Rs 2.64 Cr Digital Arrest Scams
29 Oct
Summary
- Fake health camps collected villagers' ID details for e-SIM activation.
- Over 3,000 SIM cards activated, linked to Rs 2.64 crore fraud.
- Two arrested for supplying activated e-SIMs via social media.
Delhi Police's IFSO unit has cracked a significant cyber fraud ring. The syndicate exploited fake health camps in villages, deceptively collecting residents' identity details, including Aadhaar and biometric data. This information was then used to activate e-SIMs and physical SIM cards.
Two men, Jitendra Singh and Brajesh Kumar, have been apprehended for their involvement. Authorities estimate that over 3,000 SIM cards were activated within the last year. These were subsequently linked to more than 20 cyber-fraud cases, with a total estimated fraud amount of Rs 2.64 crore.
The investigation, spurred by a victim of a digital arrest scam who lost Rs 1.64 crore, led police to the Mathura region. The accused procured activated e-SIMs for Rs 800-Rs 1,200 and resold them for around Rs 2,000, accepting cryptocurrency payments. They supplied 20-30 e-SIMs daily via social media platforms.
Three mobile phones were recovered from the accused. Police suspect the network also had foreign contacts and is investigating further to uncover any broader connections to extensive cyber-fraud activities.
