The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has apprehended five cyber criminals associated with a fraud syndicate operating from Cambodia. The arrested individuals, from Hyderabad, Warangal, and Uttar Pradesh, were involved in defrauding Indian citizens of significant amounts of money. Syed Ashraf Ali, intercepted at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, was caught carrying 198 SIM cards to Cambodia on instructions from the main accused, Rizvan, based in Uttar Pradesh.
TGCSB Director Shikha Goel disclosed that the arrested individuals were part of an organized network, with a mastermind operating from Cambodia. Rizvan oversaw the procurement of SIM cards through local agents who obtained them illegally from innocent individuals. The investigation revealed that over 600 SIM cards had been transported illegally since 2023 through this network, which has multiple layers of operatives beyond the five arrested individuals.
Ashraf Ali’s involvement began in Dubai in 2023 when he met Rizvan, who offered him a lucrative deal to supply Indian SIM cards. These cards were subsequently used for cybercrimes such as phishing, identity theft, impersonation, and extortion. The illegal supply chain operated through local Point of Sale (POS) agents, including individuals like Syed Sohail, Ateeq Ahmed, and Nune Ashok, who knowingly procured and supplied over 600 active SIM cards for financial fraud purposes.
Arvind Kumar, also known as Shahid, who serves as a courier for the gang, is currently evading authorities. Efforts are underway to apprehend him and other network members, including those operating from abroad. The TGCSB emphasized the severity of such offenses, highlighting their impact on national security, economic stability, and public order. The bureau reiterated its commitment to combatting such crimes and warned the public to remain vigilant against similar fraudulent activities.
