Hyderabad: Cyberabad police busted an inter-state SIM-swap fraud racket involved in vishing, e-SIM manipulation and online banking fraud, arresting six accused persons linked to a Rs.77.75 lakh scam.
Police said the accused posed as officials from the Citibank Prestige Credit Card Division. They allegedly convinced victims to convert e-SIMs into physical SIM cards in the name of Department of Telecommunications verification.
Investigators said the gang couriered mobile devices loaded with malicious applications to victims. Once victims inserted SIM cards into the devices, OTPs and banking alerts were diverted to the fraudsters.
The accused then gained unauthorised access to bank accounts and transferred money through fraudulent online transactions.
SIM-swap fraud racket led to Rs.15 lakh recovery
Cyberabad police arrested the accused on transit warrants during the investigation. Officers recovered Rs.15 lakh cash from residences in West Bengal.
Police also seized several mobile phones, SIM cards, a laptop, Citibank labels, Motorola stickers and other electronic devices from the accused.
The arrested persons were identified as Selim Mondal, Abdul Alim SK alias Mittu, Saiyad Hasim Reza alias Tippu, Mijanur Rahaman Shaik, Bansidhar and Mehebub Iam Nsary alias Suraj.
SIM-swap fraud racket used fake verification claims
T. Saimanohar, DCP, Cyber Crimes, Cyberabad, warned citizens against sharing OTPs, banking credentials or SIM-related information over phone calls.
He also advised people not to insert SIM cards into unknown devices received through courier services. According to police, such methods enabled the accused to divert banking alerts and carry out fraudulent transactions.
Further investigation into the SIM-swap fraud racket was underway.