Gurugram: In a major breakthrough against cross-border cybercrime, Cyber Crime Police Station East has busted a Chinese-linked cyber fraud syndicate and arrested three key operatives who were providing calling support to overseas scammers from India. The accused were intercepted in Delhi while attempting to escape by bus to Kathmandu.
Police recovered a 20-port physical SIM box, a laptop, and multiple smartphones installed inside the device. Preliminary investigation revealed that the setup was capable of placing more than 20,000 calls a day, primarily used for gaming scams, fake investment schemes and other online frauds targeting Indian citizens.
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The arrested men have been identified as Karma (32), Lobsang Tsultim (33) and Ngawang Gyaltshen (35). Karma is a resident of Dimapur, while Tsultim hails from Mandi and Gyaltshen from Dharamshala. Police said Karma and Tsultim were apprehended on February 14, while Gyaltshen was arrested on February 16 near the Majnu Ka Tila area in Delhi.
Investigators said the trio had jointly installed a virtual SIM box in Gurugram, enabling foreign cybercriminals to place calls that appeared to originate from Indian numbers—significantly increasing the chances of duping victims.
During interrogation, the accused disclosed that the operation was being run on the instructions of a China-based handler identified as Tsega. The foreign coordinator allegedly arranged technical infrastructure and routed scam calls through India to avoid detection. Officers said the seized SIM box had been re-engineered to house multiple smartphones, including devices from Redmi, allowing bulk automated calling.
According to cybercrime officials, the syndicate relied on a customised APK application that routed call traffic directly to Chinese cyber gangs. The accused were in constant touch with their overseas handler via WeChat—a platform banned in India since 2020.
A significant revelation during questioning was that Tsultim and Gyaltshen were born in China and have been living in India as refugees for nearly 15 years. Both are fluent in Chinese and Taiwanese languages, skills that were allegedly exploited by the syndicate for coordinating operations and managing call traffic.
Police sources said the accused were paid for installing and maintaining the SIM box infrastructure, while the actual fraud proceeds were routed abroad. Investigators are now tracing financial trails, identifying additional accomplices and mapping the wider international network linked to the racket.
The three accused were produced before a court and taken on police remand for further questioning. After completion of remand, they were sent to judicial custody. Authorities said efforts are underway to identify other individuals involved in logistics, SIM procurement and money laundering.
Senior cybercrime officials said Gurugram district police have intensified action against organised online fraud networks and are simultaneously running awareness drives to caution citizens against unsolicited calls, suspicious investment offers and gaming links promising quick returns.
“The investigation is focused on establishing the full scale of the operation, including the number of victims and the total amount siphoned off overseas. Such SIM box-based fraud networks pose a serious threat to digital security, and strict action will continue,” officials said.
Police have urged residents to report suspicious calls immediately and avoid sharing personal or banking details with unknown callers, reiterating that cyber syndicates are increasingly using local infrastructure to mask international scams.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
