Telecom Scam Exposed: Fake Exchange in Meerut Steals Crores from International Calls

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Six Individuals Arrested in Uttar Pradesh for Operating Large-Scale VOIP-Based Telecommunications Racket

A joint operation involving the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams has led to the arrest of six individuals in connection with a sophisticated telecommunications racket in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

The suspects, identified as Fardeen, Nazim alias Furkan, Faheem, Sultan, Shadab, and Rahees, all residents of Zakir Colony in Lohia Nagar, allegedly exploited internet-based calling systems for illicit gains.
They created a technical setup that bypassed high international calling charges by routing incoming foreign calls through the internet to VOIP-GSM gateway devices, before converting them into local mobile calls.
This scheme resulted in substantial losses to telecom companies and impacted government revenue, as the gang routed thousands of calls daily, generating hundreds of thousands of rupees in profits.
During interrogations, it became clear that the gang recruited individuals from various areas or offered commissions to obtain SIM cards in their names, which were then inserted into the VOIP-GSM gateway devices.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the racket posed a significant threat to national security due to its potential links with foreign countries, including a suspected connection to Pakistan.
As part of the ongoing investigation, agencies are probing the extent of these international connections and identifying other associates involved in the racket.

Raid and Seizure of Equipment

During the raid, authorities seized a large quantity of technical equipment, including:

two Wi-Fi Airtel Xstream Air Fiber 5G devices
two fiber routers
32 external antennas
three laptops
five VOIP-GSM gateway machines
186 SIM cards
five mobile phones

According to the police, “The forensic analysis of the seized devices is currently underway to decode the network structure and identify additional associates.”

International Connections

The case highlights the risks associated with the misuse of technology for large-scale financial crimes and underscores the need for continued vigilance in detecting and preventing such activities.

As per the statement of the law enforcement official, “Further investigations are expected to reveal more details about the international connections and the scope of the racket.”