Ahmedabad | December 01, 2025: Amid a worrying surge in cyber-enabled crimes across India, the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has exposed a major international syndicate trafficking illegally activated mobile SIM cards to Dubai. These SIM cards were being used as untraceable communication tools in digital arrest scams, online betting rackets, and financial fraud schemes targeting Indian nationals.
Investigators confirmed that the accused exploited identity documents and biometric data of unsuspecting customers, activating secondary SIM connections without their knowledge, and smuggling them to Dubai. The probe has revealed that more than 1,000 SIM cards have already been trafficked overseas.
Digital Arrest Case Triggered the Crackdown
The investigation began after a senior citizen was defrauded of ₹25 lakh through a digital arrest scam — where fraudsters impersonate law-enforcement officials and coerce victims into transferring money. The WhatsApp number used to threaten the victim was traced back to Gujarat, leading police directly to the illegal SIM activation network.
The Modus Operandi — A Scam Hidden in Plain Sight
Police said the gang operated through local SIM and recharge agents who targeted ordinary customers:
- Agents offered to “help transfer connections to relatives’ names”
- Collected Aadhaar details, ID proofs and fingerprints
Activated two SIMs using the same customer credentials
• One legitimately handed over to the buyer
• The second secretly routed to Dubai
Smuggled SIMs sold for ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 per card. The simplicity of the scam made it difficult for victims to detect until police intervention.
Four Arrests Made; Dubai Links Confirmed
The cyber police have arrested four members of the syndicate. They have been identified as:
| Name | Role | Network Links |
|---|---|---|
| Vijay | Fraudulent SIM activation | Gujarat |
| Shubham | Handling SIM trafficking | Gujarat |
| Kiran | Logistics coordination | Gujarat |
| Kuldeep (alias ‘Laden’) | Key carrier; works in Dubai call centre | Dubai–Gujarat |
Officials said Kuldeep has been working for nearly two years in a Dubai-based cricket betting call centre, and during visits to India, he collected SIM consignments and transported them out of the country. His monthly salary was estimated at ₹20,000–₹25,000, but police suspect his main earnings came from the SIM trafficking network.
SIM Cards: The New Fuel of Cyber Crime
Investigators emphasised that illegally activated SIMs are extremely challenging to trace, making them ideal for:
- Anonymous online extortion
- Digital arrest scams
- Illegal online betting networks
- Crypto-linked frauds
- UPI-based social engineering scams
“This network enables criminals to scam Indians sitting thousands of kilometres away. A single SIM can be the launchpad for millions in fraud,”
A senior cyber official said.
Police Advisory: Verify Connections Using TAFCOP
ACP Hardik Makadiya urged citizens to check unwanted mobile connections linked to their identities:
“Visit the TAFCOP portal and immediately report unknown SIMs issued in your name. Even a single overlooked linkage can be misused for large-scale fraud.”
Digital India vs. the Dark Side of Identity Theft
Experts say that rapid digital transformation — UPI payments, online KYC, app-driven services has also created vulnerabilities:
- Identity theft through careless document sharing
- Biometric duplication at retail outlets
- Illegal VoIP routing through foreign servers
- The police stress that public vigilance is the first shield against cyber syndicates.
Stay Safe: Cyber Awareness Checklist
- Do not hand over ID documents to random SIM/recharge vendors
- Avoid biometric authentication outside authorised telecom stores
- Block and report suspicious calls immediately
- Cyber Crime Helpline — 1930
