<p>Hyderabad: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB)'s Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS) has arrested five cyber criminals from Hyderabad, Warangal and Uttar Pradesh who were closely associated with a cyber fraud syndicate operating from Cambodia, defrauding Indian citizens of crores of rupees.</p><p>The arrested include Rizvan, Syed Ashraf Ali, Syed Sohail, Ateeq Ahmed, Nune Ashok. According to TGCSB director, Shikha Goel, on Tuesday Syed Ashraf Ali was trying to carry 198 SIM cards to Cambodia on the instructions of Rizvan, he was intercepted at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport by the immigration authorities and handed over to TGCSB.</p><p>A case under 66 C, D ITA Act-2008 and Sec.318(4), 56, 61, 113 r/w 62 BNS, Sec.42(3)(e) of the Telecommunication Act was registered at CCPS. </p><p>During questioning, Syed Ashraf Ali confessed about their organised network, which includes a mastermind operating from Cambodia and Rizvan coordinates the SIM card procurement through local agents who illegally obtains SIM cards from innocent people. </p><p>It has been established that more than 600 SIM cards have been illegally transported since 2023 in six separate instances through this organized network. </p><p>While five accused have been arrested so far, the network is much larger, with multiple layers of operatives.</p><p>Syed Ashraf went to Dubai in 2023 where he befriended one Rizvan of Uttar Pradesh. At that time Ashraf was working in a hotel and Rizvan was working in a gaming call centre at Dubai, offered him a lucrative amount for supplying Indian SIM cards. </p>.<p>Being lured Ashraf began procuring SIM cards and these procured Indian SIM cards are being used for cyber crime like phishing, identity theft, impersonation, and extortion, causing huge losses to Indian citizens.</p><p>The illegal supply chain worked in a structured manner from local Point of Sale (POS) agents on commission, often using fake or impersonated documents. </p><p>Syed Sohail, Ateeq Ahmed, Nune Ashok operate point of sale centre. Sohail works in Jio as promoter as well as he has Airtel POS. Ateeq and Ashok run Airtel POS. </p><p>Together they wilfully and with complete knowledge procured and supplied 600+ active sim cards to be used for financial frauds. </p><p>Another Arvind Kumar alias Shahid, who works as courier to this gang is absconding and efforts are on to apprehend him along with the remaining members of the network, including those operating from abroad.</p><p>Investigation is continuing. Such activities are serious offences that affect national security, economic stability, and public order. </p><p>Using fraudulently procured SIM cards allows criminals to operate anonymously, making detection and enforcement harder for law enforcement agencies, said Sikha Goel. </p>
<p>Hyderabad: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB)'s Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS) has arrested five cyber criminals from Hyderabad, Warangal and Uttar Pradesh who were closely associated with a cyber fraud syndicate operating from Cambodia, defrauding Indian citizens of crores of rupees.</p><p>The arrested include Rizvan, Syed Ashraf Ali, Syed Sohail, Ateeq Ahmed, Nune Ashok. According to TGCSB director, Shikha Goel, on Tuesday Syed Ashraf Ali was trying to carry 198 SIM cards to Cambodia on the instructions of Rizvan, he was intercepted at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport by the immigration authorities and handed over to TGCSB.</p><p>A case under 66 C, D ITA Act-2008 and Sec.318(4), 56, 61, 113 r/w 62 BNS, Sec.42(3)(e) of the Telecommunication Act was registered at CCPS. </p><p>During questioning, Syed Ashraf Ali confessed about their organised network, which includes a mastermind operating from Cambodia and Rizvan coordinates the SIM card procurement through local agents who illegally obtains SIM cards from innocent people. </p><p>It has been established that more than 600 SIM cards have been illegally transported since 2023 in six separate instances through this organized network. </p><p>While five accused have been arrested so far, the network is much larger, with multiple layers of operatives.</p><p>Syed Ashraf went to Dubai in 2023 where he befriended one Rizvan of Uttar Pradesh. At that time Ashraf was working in a hotel and Rizvan was working in a gaming call centre at Dubai, offered him a lucrative amount for supplying Indian SIM cards. </p>.<p>Being lured Ashraf began procuring SIM cards and these procured Indian SIM cards are being used for cyber crime like phishing, identity theft, impersonation, and extortion, causing huge losses to Indian citizens.</p><p>The illegal supply chain worked in a structured manner from local Point of Sale (POS) agents on commission, often using fake or impersonated documents. </p><p>Syed Sohail, Ateeq Ahmed, Nune Ashok operate point of sale centre. Sohail works in Jio as promoter as well as he has Airtel POS. Ateeq and Ashok run Airtel POS. </p><p>Together they wilfully and with complete knowledge procured and supplied 600+ active sim cards to be used for financial frauds. </p><p>Another Arvind Kumar alias Shahid, who works as courier to this gang is absconding and efforts are on to apprehend him along with the remaining members of the network, including those operating from abroad.</p><p>Investigation is continuing. Such activities are serious offences that affect national security, economic stability, and public order. </p><p>Using fraudulently procured SIM cards allows criminals to operate anonymously, making detection and enforcement harder for law enforcement agencies, said Sikha Goel. </p>