Mumbai: In a significant breakthrough against cyber fraud networks operating across the country, a point-of-sale (POS) agent in Mumbai has been arrested for allegedly supplying more than 300 SIM cards to cyber criminals. Investigators say the accused misused Aadhaar details of several individuals to activate the SIM cards and provided them to fraudsters in exchange for hefty commissions. These SIM cards were reportedly used in multiple online fraud cases across different parts of India.
During the investigation, it emerged that the arrested accused, Kamal Pukraj Kuldeep, worked as a POS agent for telecom companies. In this capacity, he had access to customers’ Aadhaar documents submitted for SIM card activation. Authorities say he allegedly exploited this access to generate a large number of SIM cards fraudulently and supplied them to cyber crime networks.
Hundreds of SIM Cards Generated Using Aadhaar Data
Investigators found that the accused activated more than 300 SIM cards by misusing Aadhaar information belonging to different individuals. The SIM cards were reportedly registered under various names and photographs to conceal the true identity of their users.
According to officials involved in the investigation, many of these SIM cards were later used in online fraud operations across the country. These included scams involving fraudulent calls, banking fraud and social engineering tactics used to deceive victims.
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Name Emerges in ‘Digital Arrest’ Fraud Case
The accused also surfaced during the investigation of a “digital arrest” cyber fraud case reported in Goregaon. In that incident, a senior citizen was threatened and cheated of nearly ₹29 lakh by cyber criminals.
The victim, a 66-year-old retired assistant officer from the accounts department of Western Railway, reportedly received a video call on December 10 from a man dressed in a police uniform. The caller introduced himself as “Ranjit Kumar” and claimed to be a police officer based in Mumbai.
Pressure Built in the Name of Aadhaar Misuse
The caller allegedly informed the victim that a SIM card had been issued using his Aadhaar credentials and that he would need to register a complaint with an agency in Uttar Pradesh. The call was then purportedly transferred to another person who identified himself as an official named “Prem Kumar Gautam.”
Shortly afterwards, the victim received another call from an unidentified individual claiming to be the head of a national security agency. The caller alleged that a bank account had been opened using the victim’s Aadhaar details and that it had been used for money laundering transactions worth around ₹60 crore.
Threats of Ten Years in Jail
The fraudsters further accused the victim of receiving a 10 percent commission from illegal transactions and warned that he could face charges of money laundering and human trafficking. They threatened that he could face at least ten years in prison.
The victim was then told that he was under “digital arrest,” meaning he was not allowed to leave his home or communicate with anyone. To make the claims appear legitimate, the fraudsters sent fabricated documents bearing the logos of national security authorities and the Reserve Bank of India.
Victim Transfers ₹29 Lakh Out of Fear
Under intense pressure and fear, the senior citizen transferred around ₹29 lakh to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. He was also instructed to send a WhatsApp message every two hours to remain in contact. The fraudsters assured him that the money would be returned once the supposed investigation was completed. However, when the money was not returned, the victim realised he had been cheated and subsequently approached the cyber crime authorities.
SIM Card Network Exposed During Investigation
During the investigation, officials discovered that the SIM card used in the fraud had been issued without the consent of the original Aadhaar holder. Technical analysis and digital tracking eventually led investigators to Kamal Pukraj Kuldeep in Chembur.
He was detained for questioning and later formally arrested. Preliminary findings suggest that he activated hundreds of SIM cards using different identities and photographs while working as a POS agent.
Investigators believe that these SIM cards were used in numerous cyber crimes across the country, resulting in financial losses worth crores of rupees for victims. Authorities are now continuing their investigation to identify other members of the cyber fraud network and trace the criminals who used these SIM cards to carry out the scams.
