Lucknow Police have uncovered a sophisticated illegal telecommunications network involving 192 active e-SIMs and Chinese-made SIM box devices, exposing how cybercriminals exploit communication infrastructure to disguise international calls and orchestrate financial fraud across India.
Under Operation Digital Kavach, the Crime Branch raided four locations in Lucknow, including Sushant Golf City, Para, BBD and Chinhat. Investigators seized six 32-port SIM boxes, VPN gateways, smart switches, routers and surveillance equipment.
The seized devices reportedly carried “Made in China” markings. Investigators suspect the equipment may have entered India disguised as sound amplifier components, raising concerns about illegal imports and the supply chains supporting organised cybercrime.
The technology enables international Voice-over-IP calls to appear as ordinary Indian mobile calls. By concealing the caller’s actual location and identity, fraudsters can impersonate government officials, banking representatives or law enforcement agencies to deceive unsuspecting victims.
Investigators believe the infrastructure may have facilitated digital arrest scams, extortion and financial fraud. Criminals allegedly used Wi-Fi-enabled smart face-detection doorbells to monitor their premises while attempting to avoid conventional surveillance.
The Crime Branch is coordinating with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), matching seized devices’ IMEI numbers and technical identifiers against complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
The incident highlights a serious vulnerability in India’s telecommunications security ecosystem. Fraud prevention requires stronger SIM activation controls, telecom gateway monitoring, suspicious call-pattern detection and closer coordination between operators, cybersecurity agencies and law enforcement.
As cybercriminals combine sophisticated telecommunications equipment with identity impersonation and social engineering, India must move towards intelligence-driven, real-time fraud prevention. Strengthening caller authentication, digital identity verification and cross-border investigative cooperation will be essential to protecting citizens, financial institutions and national digital infrastructure.
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