Cyber Crime
Girl, Failed IAS Aspirant, Arrested for Third Time for Spoofing Calls, Impersonating IPS and IFS Officers
GAUTAM BUDDH NAGAR: In a joint operation by Sector-142 Police Station and the Cybercrime Team (CDT), Zoya Khan, the accused involved in making spoofing calls from high-ranking officials’ CUG (Closed User Group) numbers to exert pressure, has been arrested. Zoya Khan was brought under police custody for the recovery of the SIM card used in the crime and further evidence collection.
The case was registered at Sector-142 Police Station under section 108 BNS for attempting to pressurize the complainant by making spoofing calls from police officers’ CUG numbers, 351(3) BNS and 66D IT Act. During the investigation, based on CDRs (Call Detail Records) and other evidence from the complainant’s phone, Zoya Khan and Gaurav Agarwal, resident of Delhi, were identified as suspects. She is currently under judicial custody.
Modus Operandi
Spoofing calls involve manipulating the caller ID to make it appear as though the call is coming from a trusted source. This deceives the recipient into believing they are speaking to the real owner of the displayed number when, in fact, it is a scammer.
In this case, Zoya Khan used a Dubai-based server to make spoofing calls. During interrogation, Zoya revealed that her co-accused, Gaurav Agarwal, was involved in the death of Sahil Sabberwal, who died after falling from a 7th-floor apartment in Noida. A case under Section 108 BNS was filed in this regard.
Zoya downloaded the “PortSip” app from the internet and used it to spoof calls from the CUG number of SHO Sector-142. She made threatening calls to officers and family members of the deceased, posing as a high-ranking police official, demanding strict action against the victim’s family and warning them of legal consequences if they defended the accused.
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Zoya also manipulated her voice using apps to impersonate male officers. She took Rs. 8,000 from Minakshi under the pretext of surveillance work and used the money to purchase cryptocurrency, which she used to pay for the spoofing software. Gaurav Agarwal was her accomplice in this plot.
Zoya Khan has a history of impersonating government officials to exert influence. She previously prepared for the UPSC exams but, after failing, started pretending to be an IAS/IPS/IFS officer to establish her status in society.
Her criminal history includes
1. Impersonating a Ministry of External Affairs official to demand security escorts in 2019, leading to her arrest under Sections 419/420/467/468/471 IPC and Section 66D of the IT Act .
2. Posing as an Under Secretary for UNSC in 2019 to demand security, leading to a case under Sections 170/417/468 IPC and 66D IT Act .
3. In 2023, she impersonated an IPS officer in Gurgaon to request police escorts, leading to her arrest under Sections 170/171/419/468/201 IPC and 25(1) Arms Act and 66D IT Act.
Investigation Led By:
The investigation was conducted under the leadership of Sector-142 Police and the Cybercrime Team (CDT). They worked diligently to trace the calls and collect evidence linking Zoya Khan to the spoofing activity.
Police Team:
The joint operation was carried out by officers of Gautam Buddh Nagar Police.