T.N. Cyber Crime Wing busts international SIM Box network

The Cyber Crime Wing of Tamil Nadu Police has busted an international SIM Box network in the State, which facilitate VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls from international cyber scam gangs.

Additional Director-General of Police, Cyber Crime, Sandeep Mittal told The Hindu that SIM Boxes were used to make VoIP calls from international scam compounds in Cambodia, Laos, and other countries. “For victims, it would look like a call from a local number, and not an international one. The SIM Box is an important device for international cyber criminals,” he said.

Building on the pivotal technical and intelligence insights uncovered by the State Cyber Command Centre through the intensive intelligence operation, I. Shahnaz, Superintendent of Police, Cyber Crime, conducted raids at multiple places.

Acting on leads, the special teams apprehended two persons – H. Habeeb Naina, 41, of Ramanathapuram, and Vinoth, 31, of Pattukkottai.

On interrogation, it was found that they possessed multiple SIM Boxes, which they received from China through courier, and operated them in gated communities in places such as Kanathur and Kelambakkam in Chennai, and Madurai, the Cyber Crime Police said.

By promising a guaranteed commission for managing these SIM Boxes within India, the Chinese mastermind behind this scam persuaded the apprehended individuals to collaborate and facilitate the operation. However, when they did not receive the commission regularly as assured, they decided to return the devices. They were told to hand them over to K. Sarath Kumar, 27, of Rajamangalam. Subsequently, Sarath, along with his brother Immanuel, stored the equipment at his residence. They were later arrested.

Sarath confessed to having opened numerous bank accounts and trust accounts to evade the freezing of accounts involving high value transactions, on the instructions of the Chinese scammer. He had colluded with K. Saravanakumar of Puthagaram in Chennai, who is a Bank Relationship Manager of Kodak Mahindra Bank, Villivakkam Branch, for grease money. Subsequently, the latter was also apprehended.

During subsequent inquiries, it was unearthed that the SIM cards used in the operation were procured from an Airtel store in Madurai. The staff member, S. Pandeeswari, 25, of Mathur in Sivagangai, found to be involved in issuing these SIM cards, was also apprehended.

Mr. Mittal said this State-wide operation by the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing dismantled complex digital fraud networks, sending a message of zero tolerance. “Futher investigation is under way to unearth more links to the Chinese scamster,” he said.