The cybercrime wing of Mumbai Police has uncovered a SIM card racket involving stolen Aadhaar details, registering a case against two individuals accused of activating and supplying over 100 fraudulent mobile SIM cards used in cyber fraud operations.
According to investigators, the accused allegedly misused identity documents of unsuspecting individuals to obtain mobile connections that were later used by cybercriminal networks for online scams.
Over 100 SIM cards activated using stolen identity details
Police said the accused fraudulently obtained more than 100 SIM cards using forged subscriber information and stolen Aadhaar details.
Investigators believe the SIM cards were later supplied to cybercriminals who used them for various fraud activities, including phishing calls, OTP theft, and financial scams.
Such SIM cards are often used by fraud networks because they help criminals avoid detection while carrying out scams across multiple locations.
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SIM cards sold to fraud networks
During the investigation, police found that duplicate SIM cards were allegedly sold for around ₹500 each to individuals involved in cybercrime operations.
The accused reportedly activated additional SIM cards using the same identity documents and then sold the extra connections through illegal channels.
Authorities suspect that these SIM cards may have been used in cyber fraud cases across India and possibly by networks operating abroad.
Migrant identities allegedly misused
Investigators said the accused targeted migrant workers and used their Aadhaar details to register SIM cards with fake local addresses.
In several instances, customers who purchased one legitimate SIM card were allegedly issued two connections using the same identity documents, allowing the suspects to sell the duplicate numbers to fraud networks.
Police register FIR, probe underway
Mumbai Cyber Police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation to identify the larger network of cybercriminals using the fraudulent SIM cards.
Authorities are examining telecom records, subscriber verification documents, and financial transactions linked to the accused to trace additional suspects involved in the racket.
Cybercrime officials have warned that the misuse of identity documents to obtain SIM cards remains a major enabler of financial cyber fraud, as such numbers are often used to carry out scams anonymously.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
