An investigation into a Rs 1.5 crore ‘Boss Scam’ in Ahmedabad has led police to a suspected international cybercrime network, with investigators recovering information about around 4,500 SIM cards allegedly procured for criminal operations and tracing connections to China and Pakistan.

The investigation began after an employee was allegedly tricked into transferring Rs 1.5 crore to fraudsters posing as a senior executive. Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police recovered Rs 1.3 crore and returned the amount to the victim, but the probe subsequently revealed a much larger operation involving SIM cards, malware, call centres and OTP-related services.

Two Arrested During Cybercrime Investigation

Police arrested Imran Ali Pyaada from West Bengal’s 24 Parganas and Injamul Mujibar Molla from Kolkata as part of the investigation. Eight electronic devices were recovered from the accused.

One of the devices could reportedly operate four SIM cards simultaneously. During questioning, investigators found that the accused had procured approximately 4,500 SIM cards allegedly intended to facilitate cybercrime activities.

The discovery significantly widened the scope of the investigation, suggesting that the original impersonation fraud may have been connected to an organised network providing infrastructure and services to other cybercriminals.

Probe Traces Links To China And Pakistan

Investigators also uncovered suspected international connections during the probe. Police found that malware developed in China was allegedly being used by the network, with the malware being operated from Hong Kong.

A call centre associated with the network was also traced to Islamabad, according to investigators. The proceeds generated through fraudulent activities were reportedly transferred through multiple countries in an effort to conceal the movement of the money.

Given the cross-border links, the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime team expanded its investigation in coordination with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, or I4C.

251 Cybercrime Complaints Linked To Numbers

The scale of the alleged operation became clearer after investigators found that 251 complaints had been registered on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal against mobile numbers linked to the accused.

Ahmedabad Police said the investigation had uncovered what it described as a large-scale ‘Cybercrime-as-a-Service’ network. Such networks provide infrastructure and specialised services to other criminals, allowing them to conduct fraud without managing every part of an operation themselves.

In this case, the network reportedly used WhatsApp groups to provide services to other cybercriminals, including assistance related to one-time passwords, or OTPs. These services allegedly helped other operators carry out fraudulent transactions.

Boss Scam Probe Reveals Wider Fraud Ecosystem

What began as an investigation into a Rs 1.5 crore impersonation scam has consequently developed into a broader probe into an alleged cybercrime ecosystem involving thousands of SIM cards, malware, call centres, OTP services and international channels for moving illicit proceeds.

The suspected links to Pakistan and China have also highlighted the increasingly organised and international nature of cyber fraud being investigated by Indian authorities.

Ahmedabad Police and I4C have urged citizens to exercise caution when receiving calls or messages from individuals claiming to be senior executives or bosses and requesting money or financial transactions.

Police have advised people to independently verify any demand for money or suspicious transaction before transferring funds, particularly when the request originates from an unfamiliar number or digital platform.

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