Police have arrested two men from Bihar for allegedly supplying SIM cards to cybercriminals involved in a ₹1.64 lakh fraud carried out through a fake HCG gas bill payment link. The accused allegedly provided SIM cards that helped fraudsters communicate with victims and conduct fraudulent transactions.
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How Did the Fraud Begin?
The case came to light after a Gurugram resident filed a complaint on October 12, alleging that an unknown person had contacted them through WhatsApp on October 9. The message claimed that an HCG gas bill was pending and warned that the gas connection would be disconnected if payment was not made within the stipulated time.
The message also contained mobile numbers that the complainant was instructed to contact to prevent disconnection. Believing the communication concerned an outstanding utility bill, the complainant contacted the numbers provided and subsequently received an Android application package (APK) file through WhatsApp.
How Was ₹1.64 Lakh Lost?
The complainant was sent an APK file named “HCG BILL UPDATE.apk” and instructed to use it to complete the payment process. After clicking the link, a payment portal resembling the Razorpay payment platform appeared, prompting the complainant to enter payment details and proceed with the transaction.
While attempting to make the payment using a credit card, the complainant noticed suspicious transactions involving the bank account. The total reported financial loss was ₹1,64,900. Following the complaint, Gurugram police registered a case and began investigating the individuals and mobile numbers allegedly connected to the fraudulent payment process.
Who Are the Arrested Accused?
During the investigation, police arrested two suspects from Bihar’s Banka district on October 16. The accused were identified as Nirmal Kumar, also known as Vijay Kumar, a resident of Sathiyari village, and Gopi Kumar Yadav, a resident of Pipradih village.
Police produced both accused before a court in Banka on October 16 and obtained transit remand. They were subsequently produced before a Gurugram court on October 18, where police secured one-day remand for questioning about their alleged involvement in supplying SIM cards used for cybercrime.
What Did Police Find?
According to Gurugram police, interrogation revealed that the accused had allegedly supplied SIM cards used to carry out the fraud. Investigators alleged that Nirmal Kumar obtained SIM cards fraudulently in another person’s name and sold them to Gopi Kumar Yadav for ₹1,000 each.
Gopi Kumar Yadav allegedly resold the SIM cards to another person for ₹1,500 each. Police said the SIM cards were subsequently used in similar fraudulent activities. Investigators recovered two mobile phones along with the SIM cards allegedly used in the offence.
The420 Insight: Fake Utility Bills Pose a Cyber Fraud Risk
The case highlights how criminals can exploit fears of service disconnection to persuade consumers to open suspicious links and install unfamiliar applications. Fraudulently obtained SIM cards can also complicate investigations by concealing the identities of those communicating with victims. Consumers should verify payment demands directly with their utility providers and avoid installing APK files received through unsolicited WhatsApp messages.
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