Patna, Sep 13: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has conducted searches at 10 locations in Vaishali district of Bihar, Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha and arrested one person in connection with an illegal SIM Box operation being used to perpetrate cyber-enabled frauds.
Based on searches at 10 locations, incriminating material has been found in various digital devices like mobile phones, laptops, SIM cards seized from these locations.
The area distributor of Airtel for Mahua, Vaishali has been arrested for his role in issuing large number of SIM cards fraudulently and passing them on for use in illegal SIM Box operations.
The CBI is investigating a case of illegal SIM Box operation that was detected in Supaul district of Bihar, last year. The case was subsequently transferred to the CBI. More than 1300 SIM cards were found in the house where the SIM Box was being operated.
The CBI has also collated data which indicates that this SIM Box operation was connected to at least 73 cases of cybercrime all across India, including cases of ‘Digital Arrest’ modus operandi.
Data related to over 1300 SIM cards was extensively analyzed and some suspected Points of Sale were identified. It was found that bulk of the SIM cards were issued from Bihar and Odisha.
More than 700 of these SIM cards were found to have been issued by an area distributor of Airtel misusing the credentials of more than a dozen Points of Sale for SIM cards in Vaishali district of Bihar.
Many of the subscribers have also stated that they do not have any idea that a SIM card was issued in their name, which was done either by deceiving them to authorize themselves multiple times for e-KYC when they went for a genuine purpose to a SIM card provider or by misusing their biometric data collected for some other purpose.
It may be recalled that CBI is investigating this case, after being transferred by the Government of Bihar, for the offences of cheating, forgery, extortion under BNS, offences of identity theft, computer-related offences under Information Technology Act and other offences under Telecommunication Act 2022.
The CBI reiterates its commitment to taking stringent legal action against individuals and entities that enable cyber fraud by misusing telecom infrastructure. It also advises citizens to remain vigilant and cautions that there is no such concept as a “digital arrest.”
Members of the public are urged not to fall prey to calls made in the name of law enforcement agencies demanding money, or to fraudulent investment schemes.
|