Telangana Cyber Security Bureau Busts Major SIM Card Racket Supplying Fraud Gangs in Cambodia
In a significant crackdown on international cybercrime networks, sleuths from the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) have dismantled a sophisticated racket that was supplying pre-activated Indian SIM cards to cyber fraud gangs operating from Cambodia. The operation culminated in the arrest of five individuals, including a key SIM card vendor, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Shamshabad, Hyderabad.
Airport Interception and Arrest
The breakthrough came when immigration authorities at RGIA, who maintain heightened vigilance on passengers traveling to high-risk destinations like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, alerted the TGCSB about suspicious activity. Acting swiftly on this crucial tip-off, a specialized TGCSB team rushed to the airport and intercepted Syed Ashraf Ali, a SIM card vendor residing in Al Jubail Colony, Chandrayangutta, as he attempted to board a flight to Cambodia.
Upon searching his hand baggage, officials seized 198 pre-activated Indian SIM cards from major telecom providers including Vi (Vodafone Idea), Jio, and Airtel. All SIMs were fully activated and ready for immediate use in fraudulent activities. Ashraf Ali was promptly taken into custody, marking a pivotal moment in the investigation.
Scale of the Cyber Fraud Epidemic
The arrest underscores the alarming scale of cyber fraud plaguing India in recent years. According to TGCSB data, in 2025 alone, approximately 24 lakh victims across the country were duped of a staggering Rs 22,000 crore. The previous year, 2024, saw 19 lakh Indians lose nearly Rs 23,000 crore to cybercriminals.
Focusing on Telangana, the figures remain deeply concerning: nearly 91,000 residents fell victim to cyber fraud in 2025, suffering losses of Rs 1,500 crore, while over 90,000 people were cheated out of Rs 1,900 crore in 2024. These statistics highlight the urgent need for robust countermeasures against such transnational crimes.
Modus Operandi and International Links
During interrogation, Ashraf Ali revealed that he was transporting the SIM cards to Cambodia specifically for use in cyber fraud camps run by Chinese gangs. He confessed to procuring the SIMs fraudulently by submitting credentials of unsuspecting customers and colluding with several Point of Sale (PoS) agents in Hyderabad to amass a larger inventory.
Investigators uncovered that the gang had illegally transported over 600 SIM cards in six separate instances since 2023 to cyber fraud operations in Cambodia. Ashraf Ali was promised between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 per SIM card, plus an additional Rs 50,000 by an associate named Rizwan, a native of Uttar Pradesh, for delivering the consignment to an unidentified contact in Cambodia.
The two had forged their connection years earlier while working together in Dubai, illustrating the international dimensions of this criminal network.
How the SIM Cards Fuel Cyber Fraud
TGCSB officers explained that these pre-activated Indian SIM cards are instrumental in executing various types of cyber frauds, including investment scams, digital arrest frauds, and part-time job frauds targeting Indian victims. Fraudsters based in Cambodia use the SIMs to activate WhatsApp on their devices, then discard them after use to evade detection.
Through WhatsApp calls and messages, they directly target individuals in India, leveraging the local numbers to appear legitimate and gain trust. This method has proven highly effective in deceiving victims, as confirmed by 250 cyber slavery victims repatriated from Cambodia, who testified that Indian WhatsApp numbers are routinely used in Cambodian fraud camps to dupe Indians.
Financial Laundering and Legal Action
Further investigations revealed that about 70% of the funds lost by Indians in these cyber frauds are laundered to countries like China, Singapore, Taiwan, and Dubai via cryptocurrency transactions. This complex financial web complicates recovery efforts and underscores the sophisticated nature of these operations.
Police have filed a suo motu case against Ashraf Ali under multiple legal provisions: Sections 66-C and 66-D of the Information Technology (IT) Act, read with Section 318(4) (Cheating) and Section 61 (Criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Section 42(3)(e) of the Telecommunication Act. In a follow-up operation, TGCSB officers also arrested four additional suspects, including Rizwan and three local PoS agents, effectively dismantling the entire network.
This crackdown represents a major victory in the ongoing battle against transnational cybercrime, highlighting the critical role of inter-agency cooperation and vigilant immigration checks in safeguarding national security and public finances.
