Woman Engineer Loses Lakhs in 5G SIM Upgrade Scam

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Noida Woman Loses ₹24.86 Lakh in 5G SIM Upgrade Scam

A recent case of cyber fraud has resulted in significant financial losses for a woman engineer in Noida, who was duped out of ₹24.86 lakh in a 5G SIM upgrade scam.

The Scam

The incident occurred when the victim received a call from a person claiming to be a telecom company executive, offering to upgrade her 4G SIM to 5G.

The scammers initiated an eSIM activation request on her number without any one-time password (OTP) or link verification, immediately disabling her mobile network.

Over the next four days, the fraudsters made multiple calls to the victim, citing technical issues and claiming that her phone would remain inactive for 24 hours as part of the 5G upgrade process.

Discovery of the Scam

Unaware of the ongoing scam, the victim visited a telecom store on February 8 and obtained a replacement SIM.

Upon regaining access to her phone, she discovered multiple unauthorized transactions on her bank accounts and credit card.

Funds had been withdrawn from her Axis Bank and ICICI Bank accounts, and her Axis Bank credit card was also used.

The scammers had routed part of the money through online platforms such as Amazon, Freecharge, and PhonePe.

Investigation

The incident has been reported to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), and cyber police are investigating the matter.

According to officials, this is a classic case of SIM swap fraud, where criminals take control of a victim’s mobile number to bypass OTP-based banking security.

“Cybercrime authorities have warned that telecom operators do not upgrade SIMs through unsolicited calls, and eSIM activation always requires OTP authentication.”

Citizens are advised to verify any SIM-related requests only through authorized stores or official apps.

Additionally, if a mobile network suddenly stops working without reason, users should immediately contact their telecom provider and bank, temporarily block net banking and UPI services, and report the matter on the 1930 cyber helpline.

Efforts to Recover Funds

Efforts are underway to identify the beneficiary accounts and freeze the siphoned funds.

Investigators are using digital payment data and telecom records to trace those involved in the fraud.

The incident highlights the importance of being cautious when receiving unsolicited calls or messages, and the need for individuals to be aware of the latest cyber threats and scams.