Varanasi Cyber Crime Team has arrested two members of an alleged inter-district cyber fraud gang accused of draining ₹12 lakh from a police officer’s bank account through a SIM swap technique without using any OTP alert. Police said fake Aadhaar cards, forged documents, mobile phones and cash were recovered from the accused, while the role of another suspect is being examined.
The case began after a police personnel posted at Varanasi Police Line found that ₹12 lakh had been withdrawn from his bank account without any prior OTP notification. He lodged a complaint at the cyber police station, following which investigators used banking records, mobile data analysis and digital surveillance to trace the accused.
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Duplicate SIM Used to Take Control of Mobile Number
During interrogation, police found that the accused allegedly collected sensitive personal details of victims, including Aadhaar numbers, PAN details and banking information. They then approached telecom retail outlets and claimed that the original SIM card had been lost or damaged.
Using forged documents, the gang allegedly obtained duplicate SIM cards linked to the victims’ mobile numbers. Once the new SIM was activated, the original SIM stopped functioning, giving the accused control over the number.
Police said this allowed the fraudsters to receive OTPs, banking alerts and verification messages on their own devices. They then accessed bank accounts and UPI applications such as PhonePe, Google Pay and Paytm to withdraw money within minutes.
Fake Documents and Cash Recovered
Police arrested the accused from near the police line area after tracking transaction records and technical evidence. Officials said multiple mobile phones, fake Aadhaar cards, forged documents and cash were recovered during the action.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the gang allegedly cheated at least 11 victims over the past year using similar methods. Police said the accused also used fake identity documents to withdraw cash through Customer Service Points.
Investigators believe the stolen money was distributed among gang members after withdrawal. Officials suspect that the network had technical expertise and operated through a structured criminal strategy.
Police Probe Wider Cyber Fraud Network
A case has been registered under provisions related to cyber fraud, cheating and the Information Technology Act. Police said efforts are underway to identify other members of the gang, and further arrests are likely.
Cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said SIM swap attacks are dangerous because control of a mobile number can compromise a victim’s wider digital identity. He described such frauds as examples of social engineering, where criminals exploit gaps in awareness and verification systems.
Police have advised citizens to immediately contact their bank and telecom service provider if their mobile network suddenly stops working or a SIM appears deactivated. Victims of cyber fraud have also been urged to report incidents on the national cyber helpline number 1930.
