Meerut: CBI busts VoIP fraud,180 SIM cards seized

In a significant crackdown on cyber-enabled fraud, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two directors of a Meerut-based company accused of setting up the firm specifically to procure bulk SIM cards and enable SIM Box operations to facilitate large-scale cybercrime. In a related case, Meerut Police and the Anti- Terrorist Squad of the UP Police have arrested six persons from Lisadi Gate area in Meerut and recovered 180 SIM cards used for making VoIP (Voice over internet protocol) calls.

The arrested individuals by the CBI, have been identified as Mohammad Vilal also referred to as Mohammed Bilal and Mohammed Dilshad. Both were taken into custody from Meerut following coordinated raids and extensive investigations. Meanwhile, the raid on the premises in Lisadi Gate area by the Meerut Police, led to the arrest of six accused persons identified as Fardeen, Nazim alias Furqan, Faheem, Sultan, Shadab and Rahis.

According to CBI officials, the company was incorporated in January 2025 under the pretext of legitimate business activities. Investigations revealed that it procured at least 108 SIM cards in the company’s name, falsely claiming they were for employee use. These SIM cards were allegedly deployed through SIM Box hardware devices, a technology that routes international or internet-based calls (often via VoIP) through multiple local Indian mobile numbers.

This method disguises the origin of fraudulent calls, allowing scammers to impersonate local callers, evade detection, and carry out phishing, digital arrest scams, investment frauds, and other cybercrimes anonymously and at lower costs, the officials said.

The operation came to light as part of the CBI’s broader efforts to dismantle networks supporting cyber fraud, including misuse of telecom infrastructure. Following technical analysis of call data and patterns linked to fraud complaints, the agency conducted searches at six locations across Meerut and Noida in Uttar Pradesh. These raids targeted premises connected to the company and its directors, leading to the arrests on March 27, 2026.A CBI spokesperson stated.

The accused had allegedly incorporated the company solely to procure bulk SIM cards and facilitate SIM Box operations for cyber frauds. Following extensive technical analysis and coordinated field operations, two key accused were apprehended from Meerut. They were directors of the company.

SIM Box fraud has become a major enabler for cybercriminals in India, as it bypasses international call routing charges and helps mask the true source of spoofed calls used in scams. Authorities have intensified action against such setups under initiatives like Operation Chakra, targeting mule accounts, unauthorized SIM procurement and telecom misuse.

The arrested directors are currently in CBI custody, and further interrogations are expected to uncover the full extent of the network, including potential links to larger fraud syndicates and beneficiaries of the SIM Box operations.

In another operation, Meerut Police unmasked a tech savvy gang that was operating an illegal VoIP (Voice over internet protocol) exchange. It was a pretty sophisticated but illegal bypass that turned expensive international calls into cheap-looking local ones, primarily to hide identities and dodge Government revenue. The illegal VoIP exchange being run from Lisadi Gate area was detected by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

 

Accordingly, sleuths from Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Anti-Terrorism Squad of the Meerut Police raided the premises which led to the arrest of six accused persons.

A case has been registered at the Lisadi Gate police station, and further investigation and legal action is underway, said a police official. Police are investigating the role of other players who could be based in other countries and were using VoIP calls to sidestep Indian intelligence agencies for launching subversive activities inside India.

Investigation by the Meerut Police has found that the accused were running an unauthorized setup that converted international VoIP calls into local voice calls. VoIP routes voice calls over the internet (instead of traditional telecom networks), making them much cheaper.

The CBI has urged citizens to report suspicious calls or fraud attempts through official channels, such as the cybercrime portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or helpline 1930, and to remain vigilant against unsolicited calls demanding money or personal information.

The two cases highlight the ongoing challenges in regulating bulk SIM issuance and telecom resources amid rising cyber threats in the country. Investigations are ongoing, with possible additional arrests anticipated.