The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has apprehended two Indian operatives of a Chinese-led international cyber fraud syndicate that used VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology to cheat Indian citizens by impersonating government officials. The gang was involved in “digital arrest” frauds, falsely threatening victims with legal action to extract sensitive personal and financial data.
The breakthrough came following intelligence from Gujarat ATS and was carried out under the guidance of Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Shri G.S. Malik, with coordination from senior officers of the Crime and Cyber Crime Branches. Acting on a complaint filed by PSI C.H. Rabari, the police conducted a targeted raid on the 9th floor of Cambay Grand, Thaltej, where a company named SET SQUARE LEARNING SOLUTION PVT LTD was operating an illegal VoIP network through three active servers.
How the Scam Operated: VoIP Calls, Fake TRAI Warnings, and Phishing
The gang’s modus operandi was technically sophisticated:
- VoIP calls were initiated from locations such as Thailand, China, Iran, Iraq, and Malaysia.
- These calls were routed through a server rented in Germany, then relayed through servers in Ahmedabad, making it appear as though the calls originated from Indian mobile numbers.
- The accused impersonated officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), using scare tactics like: “Your SIM card will be blocked within two hours.”
- Victims were threatened with “digital arrest” or legal consequences unless they complied, often leading them to disclose personal and banking details.
- The stolen information was then used in investment scams and financial fraud.
During the raid, police seized multiple SIP line connections (DID range: 7971812475 to 7971813974) and equipment used for call masking and routing. Investigators discovered that the network was capable of handling 500 simultaneous calls, making it a powerful tool for mass fraud.
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Arrests and Accused Profiles: VoIP Tech Meets Criminal Intent
The two main accused arrested in the operation are:
1. Lovekesh Kumar (49), New Moti Nagar, New Delhi
- Founder of SET SQUARE LEARNING SOLUTION PVT LTD
- Installed SIP server infrastructure and rented server space from Datafirst, Ahmedabad.
- Has a criminal history in visa fraud in Karnal, Haryana.
- Educational qualification: Class 10 pass.
- Planned to expand operations to Indore and Madhya Pradesh.
2. Anurag Gupta (44), GMS Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
- A telecom infrastructure expert with 18 years of experience.
- Installed and managed the VoIP setup and routing technology.
- Holds an M.Com degree, and has a prior cybercrime record from Sonipat, Haryana.
- Reportedly met Lovekesh while both were previously in jail.
A key foreign collaborator identified is Cindy Wang, a Chinese national associated with Hong Kong-based firms QUICK COM and SNOW FLY ONLINE. She played a crucial role in coordinating the VoIP infrastructure setup and backend operations.
The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Information Technology Act, and the Indian Telegraph Act, including:
- Sections 54, 61(2)(a), 204, 308(2), 316(2), 318(4), 319(2), 351(4) (BNS)
- Section 66(D) of the IT Act (Impersonation and cyber fraud)
- Section 25(C) of the Indian Telegraph Act (Illegal telecom operations)