Bihar Police have uncovered a sophisticated international cyber fraud operation running out of Madhubani district, arresting four men and seizing Chinese-made SIM boxes and a massive stockpile of electronic equipment used to cheat victims across the country.
The crackdown was carried out by the cyber crime and security wing of Bihar Police with support from Madhubani police, following intelligence inputs indicating cross-border cyber activity with potential national security implications.
During the raid, police recovered seven SIM boxes manufactured in China, 136 mobile phones, over 136 SIM cards, Wi-Fi cables, network switches and other digital equipment, apart from ₹1.68 lakh in cash. Officials said the seized infrastructure was capable of handling hundreds of calls simultaneously, making it a powerful tool for large-scale online fraud.
Senior officers said the gang was using SIM box technology to convert international calls originating from China, Thailand and Cambodia into local Indian numbers. This allowed cyber criminals operating overseas to pose as domestic callers, thereby gaining the trust of unsuspecting victims and bypassing telecom monitoring systems.
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The illegal call-routing centre was being operated from a residential house in Tirhut Colony area of Madhubani town. From this location, fraudsters allegedly assisted foreign-based cyber criminals in carrying out financial scams targeting people in Bihar and several other states.
Police identified two of the arrested accused as Mandeep Kumar and Roshan Kumar, sons of Suresh Singh, who are believed to be key operators managing the technical setup. The other two arrested men, Mohammad Ehsan and Vikas Kumar, allegedly supplied SIM cards procured using fake names and forged addresses, a crucial element that enabled the racket to function undetected.
Investigators said each SIM card was mapped to the SIM box system, allowing international calls to appear as ordinary domestic calls. Victims were therefore more likely to answer the calls and fall prey to fraud schemes ranging from fake customer care calls and investment scams to digital arrest threats.
The operation came to light following inputs shared during a high-level coordination meeting involving Bihar STF, intelligence agencies and other security bodies focusing on border security and emerging cyber threats. Given the sensitivity of the case and its international linkages, authorities have informed the National Investigation Agency.
Officials said the involvement of foreign locations and the use of advanced telecom manipulation techniques raised red flags related not only to cyber fraud but also to potential misuse for anti-national activities.
Following the initial arrests, additional raids were conducted in Jaynagar and Khajauli areas of Madhubani district based on technical analysis and call-routing trails. Police are now examining call data records, financial transactions and device logs to identify overseas handlers and trace the full network.
A senior police officer said preliminary analysis suggests the racket had been operational for several months and may have facilitated thousands of fraudulent calls daily. “The SIM box system allows criminals sitting abroad to operate as if they are calling from within India. This is a serious threat to telecom security and public trust,” the officer said.
The arrested accused are being interrogated to ascertain the exact scale of operations, financial gains and links with foreign cyber syndicates. Police are also coordinating with the Department of Telecommunications and intelligence agencies to track the origin of the equipment and block compromised SIM cards.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious while receiving calls claiming to be from banks, government departments or law enforcement agencies. “Even if a number appears local, users should verify before sharing personal or financial details,” police said.
The case highlights the rapidly evolving nature of cyber crime, where international syndicates exploit technology loopholes and local facilitators to target Indian citizens. Officials said more arrests are likely as the investigation widens and digital evidence is analysed.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
