Rs 22.92 Crore Digital Arrest Case: SIM Box Technology Used in Sophisticated Scam
In a shocking revelation from Delhi's largest digital arrest case, investigators have uncovered that fraudsters used sophisticated SIM box technology to trap a retired banker and steal Rs 22.92 crore. The elaborate scam, which targeted a 78-year-old former banker from South Delhi's Gulmohar Park, involved perpetrators posing as officials from multiple law enforcement agencies.
Cambodia Connection and SIM Box Operation
Police investigators now suspect that the entire criminal operation was masterminded and controlled from Cambodia, utilizing an illegally installed SIM box within India. This technological setup played a crucial role in lending credibility to the fraudulent calls that ultimately convinced the victim to transfer massive sums of money.
A SIM box represents a sophisticated call-forwarding device that can hold numerous SIM cards and generate thousands of calls daily. It functions by routing internet-based calls to local mobile numbers, making them appear legitimate to unsuspecting targets. According to investigating officers, this technology served as part of a VoIP gateway installation that facilitated the elaborate fraud.
Six-Week Digital Ordeal of Retired Banker
The victim, identified as 78-year-old retired banker Naresh Malhotra, endured what police describe as a digital arrest lasting over six weeks. During this prolonged period, the fraudsters maintained constant video surveillance over Malhotra and coerced him into signing secrecy undertakings while posing as officers from the Mumbai Police, Enforcement Directorate, and Central Bureau of Investigation.
The scam began on August 1, 2025, when Malhotra received an initial call from a woman pretending to be a senior telecom official. She falsely claimed that his mobile number had been linked to illegal activities, setting the stage for subsequent impersonations by other fraudsters.
Complex Financial Trail and Investigation Findings
According to police reports, Malhotra transferred the staggering amount of Rs 22.92 crore to 16 different bank accounts through 21 separate transactions. The investigation has revealed that these funds were then further fragmented across seven additional layers, involving an astonishing 4,236 transactions designed to obscure the money trail.
During their probe, officers confirmed that the fraudsters utilized a SIM box to initiate the deceptive calls, though the precise location of this equipment remains untraced. The technology is typically employed in legitimate call centers for sending encrypted or recorded voice communications to multiple recipients, but its installation legally requires government authorization.
Arrests and Criminal Network Structure
The investigation has thus far led to the arrest of five individuals, who have already been chargesheeted in court. Police have identified the accused as Ashok, Mohit, Amit, Samarjeet, and Kanakpal, residents of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand respectively.
Investigators have determined that the fraudsters operated through two distinct chains: one group responsible for making the deceptive calls, and another dedicated to transferring the defrauded money between multiple accounts. According to police statements, those arrested primarily served as mule account holders and facilitators, while the principal operator of both chains remains based in Cambodia.
Broader Pattern of SIM Box Fraud
An investigating officer explained that fraudsters frequently recruit unsuspecting individuals by promising attractive returns under the guise of establishing call centers. These recruits are tasked with regularly changing fraudulently activated SIM cards, which are obtained using stolen or duplicate identities through compromised point-of-sale outlets.
The officer emphasized that such setups can generate thousands of calls daily by continuously rotating multiple SIM cards, creating a formidable challenge for law enforcement agencies attempting to track and prevent such crimes.
This case follows another recent breakthrough by the IFSO unit, which earlier this month dismantled a transnational cyber fraud syndicate with connections to China, Nepal, Cambodia, Taiwan, and Pakistan. That operation resulted in seven arrests, including a Taiwanese national, and the recovery of SIM boxes from Delhi, Mumbai, and Mohali.
