Gurgaon Police Cracks Down on International e-SIM Cyber Fraud Network
In a significant breakthrough, the Gurgaon police have dismantled a sophisticated e-SIM racket with ties to a cyber fraud syndicate operating from Cambodia. The operation led to the arrest of a pivotal suspect in West Bengal last week, marking a crucial step in combating interstate and international digital crime.
Arrest of Key Accused Reveals Racket's Operations
Police apprehended Rajat Kumar, a 28-year-old BCom graduate originally from Bengaluru, on February 8. A resident of Hasimara's Railway Colony in West Bengal's Alipurduar district, Rajat was transported to Gurgaon on transit remand. After being held in police custody for three days, he was subsequently placed in judicial custody on February 12. This arrest brings the total number of individuals detained in the case to eight, with suspects nabbed from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and West Bengal.
Authorities are intensifying efforts to identify the Cambodia-based handlers and trace what they describe as "the largest interstate and international network behind the digital arrest scam." Rajat had been actively involved in the racket for approximately eight to nine months. According to investigators, he was lured into the cyber fraud network after responding to a work-from-home advertisement while searching for employment. Officers noted that he is "technologically proficient and well-versed in handling mobile systems and app-based platforms."
Financial Gains and Seized Evidence
During interrogation, Rajat disclosed that he had received a total of 19,050 USDT, a cryptocurrency unit, from his activities involving e-SIM and app enrollment. He converted these funds into rupees via the EQUITAS app and transferred the money to his bank account. The proceeds were reportedly spent on travel, dining, and leisure activities in locations such as Jaipur and Goa.
The cyber crime team confiscated substantial evidence from Rajat, including:
- 87 SIM cards
- 42 mobile phones
- 1 laptop
This seizure underscores the scale of the operation, which came to light following a case registered on October 28, 2025, at the Cyber Crime West police station in Gurgaon.
Details of the Digital Arrest Scam
The racket's modus operandi involved a chilling "digital arrest" scheme. In one instance, a 75-year-old retired resident of Palam Vihar was targeted. The victim received a WhatsApp video call from an individual posing as an officer from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The caller falsely accused the elderly man of money laundering, claiming that Rs 70 lakh had been credited to his bank account as commission from illegal activities, and threatened immediate arrest.
Intimidated and kept under continuous online surveillance for nearly a day, the victim was coerced into transferring over Rs 17.8 lakh. This case highlights the psychological tactics employed by the fraudsters to exploit vulnerable individuals.
Investigation Trail and e-SIM Conversion Process
The investigation traced the fraud through bank transactions and SIM credentials, leading authorities from Barmer in Rajasthan to Siliguri and eventually Alipurduar in West Bengal, where Rajat was captured. Police revealed that the Jio SIM used in the fraud was initially sold for Rs 650 by two accused, Shafikul alias Safik, who then sent it via speed post to Rajat for Rs 1,100.
Rajat utilized Apple devices to convert such SIM cards into e-SIMs, generating QR codes that he shared with handlers in Cambodia through Telegram. For each e-SIM, he earned 22 USDT. It is suspected that he converted and supplied around 2,100 e-SIMs, accumulating 19,050 USDT in total.
Involvement in Fake Loan App Schemes
In addition to the e-SIM racket, Rajat was engaged in enrolling fake loan applications on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. He received Rs 3,000 per app enrollment, installing and providing details for 40 to 50 fictitious loan apps to the Cambodia-based handlers. Examination of the seized mobile phones indicated that nearly every device contained evidence of fake loan app development. These apps, for which licenses were purchased online, were used to dupe victims and had previously been active on app stores.
The Gurgaon police continue to pursue leads to dismantle the entire network, emphasizing the growing threat of cyber fraud and the importance of vigilance in the digital age.
