New Delhi. The Department of Telecommunications has dismantled 44 illegal telecom centres across the country over the past two years as part of a coordinated action against cyber fraud and “digital arrest” networks. The facilities were allegedly involved in SIM box operations and illegal call routing systems used by cybercriminals for fraudulent calls, digital scams and impersonation-based offences.
Illegal Telecom Infrastructure Used for Fraudulent Calls
The information was disclosed in a Ministry of Home Affairs report submitted before the Supreme Court. According to the report, the action was carried out between April 2024 and October 2025 in coordination with local law enforcement agencies across multiple states.
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The DoT stated that the illegal telecom centres were spread across different regions and were being misused to route international and spoofed calls. These systems allegedly concealed caller identities, making it difficult for enforcement agencies to trace the origin of fraudulent communications.
SIM Box Operations and Digital Arrest Scams Under Scrutiny
The matter came under judicial scrutiny in connection with a petition highlighting the growing threat of digital arrest scams and cyber-enabled financial frauds. During the proceedings, concerns were raised over the misuse of telecom infrastructure in facilitating organised cybercrime networks.
According to the report, many of the dismantled centres were being used to facilitate banking scams, OTP-based frauds and impersonation-driven digital arrest schemes. These networks reportedly relied on rapid SIM switching and advanced call routing technologies to evade detection and maintain anonymity.
Panel Flags SIM Issuance Gaps and Calls for Faster Blocking
An Inter-Departmental Committee meeting held in March recommended rapid blocking of suspicious SIM cards. The committee observed that SIM cards used in cybercrime cases often have a short operational lifespan, and blocking them within two to three hours of detection could significantly reduce financial losses.
The committee also flagged irregularities in SIM issuance by Point of Sale agents, noting that key details such as PoS identity and SIM supply chain traceability were often missing from the Digital Intelligence Platform. The DoT referred to its August 2023 circular mandating end-to-end tracking of SIM cards from manufacturing to activation, with real-time updates in the system.
Following Supreme Court directions, the government has strengthened monitoring and tracking systems to curb cyber fraud. Artificial intelligence-based tools are being developed to detect suspicious patterns in telecom networks, including abnormal call volumes, unusual subscriber behaviour and fraudulent recharge activity.
Officials said the crackdown remains part of an ongoing enforcement drive. Investigations are now focused on identifying the operators and masterminds behind these networks, along with the wider ecosystem enabling cyber-enabled crimes.
