Hyderabad: In a major step towards tackling telecom-enabled cybercrime, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have strengthened their coordination to combat SIM fraud, spoofed calls, phishing attacks, VoIP-based scams and the misuse of illegal SIM box infrastructure. During a high-level coordination meeting held on Thursday, officials discussed a comprehensive strategy to prevent the abuse of telecom networks by cybercriminals and enhance cooperation between law enforcement agencies, telecom service providers and central government institutions.
The meeting was chaired by Shikha Goel, Director of the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, and attended by senior officials from the Department of Telecommunications, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), telecom service providers and TGCSB. The discussions focused on developing a coordinated framework to counter the misuse of mobile connections, fake identities, spoofing technologies and illegal telecom infrastructure in cybercrime.
One of the key agenda items was the growing misuse of SIM boxes and other illegal telecom equipment. Officials noted that cybercriminals frequently use such technology to disguise international calls as local numbers, making fraudulent calls appear legitimate and increasing the likelihood of victims falling prey to scams. Participants agreed to strengthen technical cooperation and operational coordination to detect and dismantle such networks more quickly.
The meeting also emphasized the need to accelerate the identification and verification of suspicious mobile numbers linked to cybercrime complaints. Officials said reducing the time between receiving a complaint and taking action against fraudulent numbers is critical, as cybercriminals often switch mobile numbers rapidly to evade detection.
Strengthening the SIM issuance process was another major focus. Participants discussed enhancing Know Your Customer (KYC) verification procedures, monitoring unusually high numbers of SIM cards issued in the name of a single individual and improving information sharing among telecom operators. Officials believe these measures will significantly reduce the misuse of fake identities and forged documents for obtaining mobile connections.
Monitoring Point of Sale (PoS) outlets also featured prominently in the discussions. Authorities explored mechanisms to identify retailers displaying abnormal SIM issuance patterns so that suspicious registrations can be investigated and fraudulent SIM distribution networks dismantled.
To improve consumer protection, officials discussed issuing timely alerts about suspected fraudulent mobile numbers, expediting the disconnection of mobile connections used in cybercrime and strengthening mechanisms to block phishing websites, malicious URLs and fraudulent links. They also reviewed technical solutions to combat international spoofed calls, VoIP-enabled fraud and telecom identity masking, which are increasingly being exploited by organized cybercrime syndicates.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that most organized cyber frauds today begin with fake SIM cards, spoofed calls or phishing links. According to him, real-time information sharing between the Department of Telecommunications, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), telecom operators and law enforcement agencies can significantly reduce incidents of digital arrest scams, investment fraud, OTP fraud and banking-related cybercrime by enabling swift action against suspicious mobile numbers.
The meeting also underscored the importance of continuous coordination among the Department of Telecommunications, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), internet service providers, telecom companies and law enforcement agencies. Officials believe that stronger technical collaboration, faster data sharing and prompt enforcement action will enhance cybercrime investigations and provide greater protection to citizens against evolving digital fraud threats.
