Alwar Blocks 1.90 Lakh SIMs in Major Cyber Fraud Crackdown Operation

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Rajasthan Police Crack Down on Cyber Fraud, Deactivate 1.9 Lakh SIMs and IMEIs

In a significant blow to organized cybercrime, the police in Rajasthan’s Alwar district have blocked over 1.9 lakh SIM cards and mobile IMEI numbers in the past three years. This massive crackdown targets the communication infrastructure used by scam networks operating from the Mewat region, which has been a hub for inter-state fraud cases.

Crackdown Statistics

Between January 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026, authorities deactivated 82,769 SIM cards and blocked 5,034 IMEI numbers. Since 2023, a total of 1,90,051 SIMs and IMEIs have been shut down.

The primary objective of this operation is to dismantle the operational chain of call-based fraud by cutting off access to disposable communication tools used by scammers.

Investigations and Logistics

Investigations revealed a structured inter-state logistics network that supplied bulk SIM cards to cyber fraud operators. Truck drivers allegedly transported SIMs from various states, including West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Karnataka, into the Mewat region.

These SIMs were then used in bank impersonation calls, OTP harvesting, fake KYC alerts, social media scams, and “digital arrest” frauds.

National Cybercrime Helpline

The national cybercrime helpline 1930 has been instrumental in providing key intelligence inputs for the crackdown. Complaints received through the helpline are processed on priority, with technical teams mapping call patterns, location clusters, and linked devices.

This data-driven approach has enabled the identification of local hideouts, leading to targeted raids and joint operations with visiting police teams from other states.

Combatting Cyber Fraud

Alwar and neighboring Bharatpur have long been flagged as cyber fraud hotspots. To combat this, a real-time coordination mechanism has been established among police units in Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to track suspects and share actionable inputs.

While the disruption of fake SIM supply has led to a decline in high-volume scam calls, fraud networks are adapting by shifting to internet calling platforms, mule bank accounts, and forged KYC identities.

Cybercrime analysts note that SIM blocking is a front-end disruption, and lasting impact will depend on parallel action against financial trails, mule account ecosystems, and local field operatives who facilitate withdrawals and cash movement.

Future Investigations

The next focus of the investigation is on SIM retailers involved in fraudulent KYC, bulk activation modules, and mule bank account channels.

Telecom operators are being integrated into real-time data-sharing frameworks, and suspicious activation analytics are being strengthened to detect abnormal SIM issuance patterns at an early stage.

Awareness Drives

At the grassroots level, awareness drives are being conducted in rural areas to warn residents against sharing identity documents or renting out SIM cards for commissions – practices that have enabled large-scale fraud.

The Alwar strategy, combining technical blocking, helpline-based rapid response, inter-state police coordination, and supply-chain disruption, is now being examined as a template for other cybercrime-affected districts.