The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has identified 36,000 active Indian SIM cards operating from Cambodia, with nearly 5,300 of them linked to cyber fraud cases involving losses running into hundreds of crores of rupees across India, according to findings from an ongoing investigation.
The probe was initiated on the basis of a First Information Report registered by the Cyber Police Station DCP (Crime), Jodhpur, concerning alleged misuse of SIM cards by certain Point of Sale (POS) vendors. Investigators said the case uncovered a network in which Indian mobile numbers were fraudulently activated and subsequently used from Cambodia to facilitate cyber fraud targeting victims across multiple states.
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Thousands of SIM Cards Allegedly Used in Cyber Fraud
According to the ED, analysis of around 2.3 lakh mobile numbers revealed that approximately 36,000 SIM cards were active in Cambodia. Of these, nearly 5,300 were allegedly involved in cyber fraud cases across India.
Investigators said the fraud involved Indian mobile numbers that had been activated in India and later supplied to Malaysian nationals. The SIM cards were then allegedly operated from Cambodia and used in cybercrime activities, including frauds conducted through WhatsApp calls.
The agency stated that the network was responsible for cyber frauds amounting to hundreds of crores of rupees.
Vendors Accused of Fraudulent Activation Network
The ED alleged that several vendors targeted less educated and gullible individuals from different parts of India on the pretext of porting existing SIM cards or issuing new ones.
According to the agency, the accused included Rahul Kumar Jha, Mohammad Sharif and Sandeep Bhatt, along with other SIM vendors identified as Prakash Bheel, Ramavatar Rathi, Hareesh Malakar and Hemant Panwar. Investigators alleged that additional SIM cards were activated and supplied to Malaysian nationals in exchange for commissions.
The ED said Rahul Kumar Jha and his associates played a significant role in supplying the SIM cards used in the operation. The agency further noted that the vendors possessed POS IDs of telecom operators Airtel, Jio and Vi for SIM issuance and activation.
Searches Conducted Across Multiple States
As part of the investigation, the ED’s Jaipur Zonal Office conducted searches on June 5 at seven locations in Kishangarh in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district, as well as in Jodhpur, Maharashtra’s Nagpur and Punjab’s Ludhiana under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
During the searches, investigators identified 30 bank accounts and seized several incriminating documents and materials. The agency also reported discovering details relating to various movable and immovable properties connected to the accused persons.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue examining the alleged SIM activation network and its links to cyber fraud operations originating from Cambodia.
