In a significant move against organized cybercrime, the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police’s Special Cell has dismantled a crucial module of an international “SIM Box” fraud group, leading to the apprehension of two suspects from East Delhi. The arrested individuals, Vaibhav Raj (29) and Anil Kumar (28), hail from Gharoli Extension in Delhi. The syndicate, with ties to handlers in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian nations, engaged in impersonating law enforcement officials and executing “digital arrest” scams, alongside fraudulent investment schemes to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
The breakthrough occurred during ‘Operation CyHawk 4.0’ on April 6 and 7, as investigators scrutinized cyber fraud patterns on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. A suspicious SIM Box/GSM gateway setup was tracked to a rented flat in GD Colony, Mayur Vihar Phase-III, on the sixth floor of a building. This illicit arrangement facilitated routing international VoIP calls through Indian mobile networks, enabling foreign fraudsters to contact victims using local numbers while evading detection.
During the raid, authorities seized one active 32-slot SIM Box, more than 350 SIM cards, multiple mobile phones, a Lenovo laptop, internet routers, and bank-related documents. Additionally, several courier envelopes from logistics firms were confiscated, indicating a consistent supply chain for SIM cards and electronic devices. Investigations unveiled that Vaibhav Raj managed the Internet connection, operated the SIM Box and laptop, and granted remote access to overseas fraudsters through applications like AnyDesk, while Anil Kumar oversaw logistics, financial transactions, and deliveries.
The syndicate’s tactics involved impersonating officials from agencies like the CBI, police, and Customs, coercing victims by falsely claiming multiple FIRs against them and threatening arrest. Victims were coerced into transferring money to purported “RBI-mandated accounts” for verification, with promises of refunds that never materialized. At least three cases have been linked to a bank account associated with the syndicate, with police emphasizing the operation’s role in a broader transnational cybercrime network that poses a severe threat to public security and telecom infrastructure.
Further inquiries are ongoing to identify other syndicate members, track the money flow, and ascertain the full scope of its international connections. Deputy Commissioner of Police (IFSO), Vinit Kumar, reiterated Delhi Police’s unwavering stance against cybercrime, urging the public to stay alert against “digital arrest” scams and promptly report suspicious calls.
