Ahmedabad: An international cybercrime network allegedly linked to Pakistan and China has been dismantled in connection with the high-profile ‘Boss Scam’,
with investigators uncovering an operation that supplied SIM cards, devices, malware and OTPs to cybercriminals, police said. Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police Anupam Singh Gehlot said the network had allegedly been active for the last four to five years and provided technical infrastructure to facilitate cyber fraud and attacks. Two people have so far been arrested from West Bengal, while the investigation is continuing. According to Gehlot, the accused allegedly procured SIM cards and supplied them to individuals operating from abroad. The network also used Chinese malware and was connected to call centres based in Islamabad. Victims were allegedly targeted through links, which, once accessed, enabled the fraudsters to facilitate unauthorised money transfers, as per an ANI report. The probe has revealed the extent of the alleged operation, with 251 complaints linked to the group reported across 26 states in India. Police said that during raids in West Bengal, they recovered devices capable of running four SIM cards simultaneously. Investigators also found that the accused had procured around 4,500 SIM cards for use in cyber fraud, while the call centre linked to the operation was allegedly being run from Islamabad. The accused allegedly also supplied OTPs to cybercriminals. Police said around 21,000 OTPs had been provided through the network so far, with each OTP reportedly being sold for Rs 100. Investigators further found that the group had moved its communications from Telegram to WhatsApp groups, allegedly to avoid detection. Nearly 10,000 devices, including mobile phones and laptops, were reportedly connected to the network and have since been deactivated by authorities. Gehlot said the findings point to a wider international network and that the police are investigating the involvement of additional modules and possible accomplices in India, ANI reported. The police commissioner also urged people to exercise caution online, warning them against opening unknown files or clicking on unverified links, which he said are commonly used to facilitate fraudulent money transfers. (With inputs from ANI)
