Cyber Crime
Odisha Police Busted an International SIM BOX Racket
The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate has exposed a significant simbox racket operating in the Laxmisagar area. This racket had been active for the past 5 to 6 months, illegally infiltrating international telephone calls into India. The operation, led by the Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police, resulted in the arrest of the accused, Rakesh Mandal, following a raid based on reliable intelligence.
How did the racket operate?
An illegal simbox setup was found on the third floor of a four-story building in Mahadev Nagar, Jharpada. Police seized five operational simboxes, two additional simboxes, hundreds of fake SIM cards, internet routers, and other equipment. Initial investigations revealed that this simbox setup was primarily used to intercept Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls from countries like Pakistan, China, and the Middle East and route them into Indian networks.
What is a Simbox?
A simbox is a device that holds multiple SIM cards and is used to illegally convert international calls into local calls. This process causes significant revenue losses to telecom companies and the government. In this racket, fake SIM cards were used, obtained without any valid identification documents.
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Purpose and Impact of the Racket
The primary goal of this racket was to earn money through illegal means. The individuals involved were working in collaboration with foreign organizations to infiltrate international calls into Indian networks, generating substantial profits. Their activities not only caused financial damage but also posed a threat to national security. This racket could have been involved in cyber fraud, blackmailing, threatening calls, and other criminal activities.
During interrogation, the accused, Rakesh Mandal, revealed that a similar setup is operational at another location in Odisha. The police will now take him into custody for further investigation.
Significance of the Incident
This incident highlights how some individuals misuse technology to flout the law and harm society. Thanks to the vigilance of the police and the assistance of cybercrime experts, this racket was successfully dismantled. However, there is a need for continued vigilance to prevent such rackets from emerging in the future.