Chinese-Linked SIM Box Scam Exposed in Gurugram, India
Cybercrime Crackdown: Chinese-Linked SIM Box Racket Dismantled in India
A major crackdown on cross-border cybercrime has resulted in the dismantling of a Chinese-linked SIM box racket operating in Gurugram, India. Three key individuals were apprehended by the Cyber Crime Police Station East while attempting to flee to Kathmandu by bus.
Arrests and Seizures
The suspects, identified as Karma, Lobsang Tsultim, and Ngawang Gyaltshen, were found to be providing calling support to overseas scammers from India. During the investigation, authorities seized a 20-port physical SIM box, a laptop, and multiple smartphones, which were installed inside the device.
The setup was capable of making over 20,000 calls per day, primarily used for gaming scams, fake investment schemes, and other online frauds targeting Indian citizens.
Modus Operandi
The arrested individuals, aged between 32 and 35, were found to be operating under the instructions of a China-based handler known as Tsega. The foreign coordinator allegedly arranged the technical infrastructure and routed scam calls through India to avoid detection.
The seized SIM box had been modified to house multiple smartphones, including Redmi devices, allowing for bulk automated calling.
Use of Customized APK Application
International Connections
The accused were in constant communication with their overseas handler via WeChat, a platform banned in India since 2020. Notably, two of the accused, Tsultim and Gyaltshen, were born in China and had been living in India as refugees for nearly 15 years.
They were fluent in Chinese and Taiwanese languages, skills that were allegedly exploited by the syndicate for coordinating operations and managing call traffic.
Financial Trails and Investigation
The accused were paid for installing and maintaining the SIM box infrastructure, while the actual fraud proceeds were routed abroad. Authorities are currently tracing financial trails, identifying additional accomplices, and mapping the wider international network linked to the racket.
The three accused were produced before a court and taken on police remand for further questioning.
Warning to Citizens
Efforts are underway to identify other individuals involved in logistics, SIM procurement, and money laundering. Senior cybercrime officials stated that Gurugram district police have intensified action against organized online fraud networks and are running awareness drives to caution citizens against unsolicited calls, suspicious investment offers, and gaming links promising quick returns.
Residents have been urged to report suspicious calls immediately and avoid sharing personal or banking details with unknown callers, as cyber syndicates increasingly use local infrastructure to mask international scams.
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