Rampur — A small-town investigation in northern India has exposed a sprawling SIM card racket that appears to have fed international cybercrime networks. More than 1,000 SIM cards, allegedly activated with forged identities, were traced to syndicates operating as far away as Cambodia.
Local police say that street vendors in Rampur were issuing SIM cards using falsified documents, often registering multiple numbers under the same person’s name. Investigators believe these SIMs were later sold in bulk to cybercriminal groups abroad. The probe gained momentum after the arrest of five vendors accused of selling fake SIMs. Interrogations revealed links to organized crime units running WhatsApp-based scams and financial fraud operations.
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How the Fraud Worked
Investigators found that vendors exploited the Aadhaar-based biometric system. In many cases, a customer’s fingerprint was used to activate one SIM, while a second card was secretly registered under the same biometric profile. Customers remained unaware, while the hidden SIM was sold to intermediaries.
“These SIMs became gateways for large-scale fraud,” said a senior cybercrime officer involved in the case. “From Cambodia, scam operators used them to impersonate Indians, adding a veneer of legitimacy to their schemes.”
Preliminary findings suggest the network enabled scams worth more than ₹2.26 crore (about $270,000), though officials warn the true figure could be far higher.
WhatsApp Scams and Global Reach
Police say the numbers were central to a surge in WhatsApp-based scams, including fake job offers, financial phishing, and extortion attempts. Victims were often misled into believing they were speaking with genuine Indian businesses or authorities.
Authorities confirmed that SIM cards worth over ₹12 lakh had already been trafficked abroad before the operation was uncovered.
Expert Concern
Cybercrime experts warn that such cases highlight systemic vulnerabilities in India’s telecom system.
“Every fraudulent SIM is not just a number — it is a weapon for cybercriminals,” said Professor Triveni Singh, former IPS officer and noted cybercrime expert. “These SIMs allow scam networks to operate seamlessly, masking their foreign origins. They are used for identity theft, phishing, extortion, even money laundering. Unless there is strict monitoring of telecom vendors, India will continue to be a supply hub for global fraud.”
The Road Ahead
While police have cracked down on local vendors, investigators admit the real masterminds likely sit abroad. The case underscores how local loopholes in digital identity verification can enable global criminal enterprises.
For India, where mobile connectivity has become the backbone of economic and social life, the Rampur case is a stark reminder that even the smallest weak link can be exploited on an international scale.