Meerut, March 27 (NationPress) - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced on Friday that it has dismantled a cyber fraud scheme involving SIM Box technology and apprehended two suspects during raids at six locations across Uttar Pradesh.

The arrested individuals, named Mohd Vilal and Mohd Dilshad, were taken into custody in Meerut district for allegedly supplying telecommunications infrastructure that enabled cyber-related financial crimes, according to officials.

This case revolves around the exploitation of bulk SIM cards utilized via SIM Box technology, which facilitates the rerouting of international or internet calls as local calls. This method is frequently employed to disguise identities and execute widespread fraudulent activities.

The investigation disclosed that a private firm was established in January 2025, under which a total of 108 SIM cards were acquired, purportedly for employee use. However, these numbers were reported by citizens through the National Cyber Reporting Portal (NCRP) and the Chakshu portal due to their suspected involvement in scams.

Officials revealed that numerous complaints suggested that the numbers associated with these SIM cards were being used to impersonate law enforcement and government officials. Victims were reportedly threatened into transferring funds after receiving such calls, often serving as the initial phase in organized cyber fraud operations.

Following a thorough technical investigation and coordinated field actions, the CBI executed searches at six premises in Meerut and Noida. The locations included properties linked to the company’s directors, associates involved in the establishment of SIM Box infrastructure, the zonal office of a telecommunications provider, and an employee from a private company responsible for verifying bulk SIM card issuance.

During these searches, investigators confiscated various electronic devices, including laptops, mobile phones, hard drives, along with incriminating documents and numerous SIM cards. Notably, a SIM card from Nepal was also retrieved, suggesting potential cross-border connections in the operation.

Initial findings indicate that the detained suspects were directors of the company, which was allegedly created solely for the procurement of bulk SIM cards and to facilitate unlawful SIM Box operations for cyber fraud networks.

The agency stated that further investigations are in progress to uncover additional members of the network, trace financial flows, and determine the full extent of the fraudulent activities.