Delhi Police has effectively dismantled an interstate cyber-fraud operation allegedly involved in the unlawful takeover of e-SIMs, apprehending two significant operatives from West Bengal. The arrests were made public on Thursday, and authorities have confirmed that the two individuals are allegedly connected to 124 complaints lodged on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.

The probe was initiated after a resident of Delhi reported the unauthorized withdrawal of approximately Rs 40 lakh from his bank accounts, which was allegedly instigated by an e-SIM takeover. This case has spurred extensive investigative efforts by the police.

Modus Operandi of the Fraudsters

According to investigators, the accused allegedly masqueraded as employees of telecom service providers, reaching out to potential victims under the guise of upgrading or converting their physical SIM cards into e-SIMs. This deception allowed them to manipulate victims into providing access to sensitive information.

The two individuals apprehended have been identified as Ankit Das, hailing from Jamtara in Jharkhand, and his cousin, Subal Das. Reports indicate that Ankit served as the primary technical operator for the operation, identifying victims and facilitating the activation of the fraudulent e-SIMs, while Subal was reportedly responsible for assisting in the calls and persuading the victims throughout the fraudulent scheme.

As soon as a victim’s mobile number was activated on a device controlled by the accused, they could gain access to one-time passwords (OTPs) and other banking communications. This put them in a position to authorise the transfer of funds to multiple mule accounts.

Next Steps in the Investigation

Authorities are now intensifying their efforts to trace the financial transactions associated with the alleged e-SIM takeover and the resultant transfer of the Rs 40 lakh from the victim’s bank accounts. As the investigation progresses, police are expected to delve deeper into the mechanisms employed by the fraudsters to operate undetected for an extended period.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share