Alwar: In one of the most extensive crackdowns on organised cyber fraud in the country, police in Rajasthan’s Alwar district have blocked over 1.90 lakh SIM cards and mobile IMEI numbers over the past three years, targeting the communication infrastructure used by scam networks operating from the Mewat belt. The action follows a surge in inter-state fraud cases traced to the region, which had drawn repeated police operations from across India.
District data show that between January 1, 2025 and January 31, 2026, authorities deactivated 82,769 SIM cards and blocked 5,034 IMEI numbers. Since 2023, a cumulative 1,90,051 SIMs and IMEIs have been shut down. Police say the objective is to dismantle the operational chain of call-based fraud by cutting off access to disposable communication tools used by scamsters.
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Truck drivers part of inter-state supply chain
Investigations revealed the existence of a structured inter-state logistics network that supplied bulk SIM cards to cyber fraud operators. Truck drivers allegedly transported SIMs from West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Karnataka into the Mewat region.
These SIMs were then used in bank impersonation calls, OTP harvesting, fake KYC alerts, social media scams and so-called “digital arrest” frauds.
Once a number is confirmed to be linked to fraud, it is immediately deactivated and the associated handset’s IMEI is blacklisted, preventing reuse on any telecom network. Police claim this dual action has reduced the recyclability of devices and weakened the gangs’ ability to quickly resume operations.
1930 helpline as primary trigger point
The national cybercrime helpline 1930 has emerged as the key intelligence input for the crackdown. Complaints received are processed on priority, with technical teams mapping call patterns, location clusters and linked devices.
This data-driven approach has enabled identification of local hideouts, leading to targeted raids and joint operations with visiting police teams from other states, who take accused persons on transit remand.
Alwar and neighbouring Bharatpur have long been flagged as cyber fraud hotspots. In response, a real-time coordination mechanism has been established among police units in Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to track suspects and share actionable inputs.
Attempt to dismantle ‘cyber hub’ tag
Police say the disruption of fake SIM supply has led to early signs of a decline in high-volume scam calls. However, fraud networks are adapting by shifting to internet calling platforms, mule bank accounts and forged KYC identities, indicating that the threat is evolving rather than disappearing.
Cybercrime analysts note that SIM blocking is a front-end disruption; lasting impact will depend on parallel action against financial trails, mule account ecosystems and local field operatives who facilitate withdrawals and cash movement.
Next focus: retailers and mule networks
- Investigators are now zeroing in on
- SIM retailers involved in fraudulent KYC,
- bulk activation modules, and
- mule bank account channels.
Telecom operators are being integrated into real-time data-sharing frameworks, and suspicious activation analytics are being strengthened to detect abnormal SIM issuance patterns at an early stage.
At the grassroots level, awareness drives are being conducted in rural areas to warn residents against sharing identity documents or renting out SIM cards for commissions—practices that have enabled large-scale fraud.
A model for other hotspots
The Alwar strategy—combining technical blocking, helpline-based rapid response, inter-state police coordination and supply-chain disruption—is now being examined as a template for other cybercrime-affected districts.
Officials maintain that the large-scale deactivation of SIMs and IMEIs ranks among the most comprehensive operations against organised cyber fraud in India, with a measurable impact on the ground-level infrastructure that sustains such networks.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
