In a significant crackdown on cyber crime, the Malappuram police have confiscated over 40,000 SIM cards, 180 mobile phones, and six biometric readers from a Karnataka native believed to be a key figure in an online racket.
Abdul Roshan, aged 46, was arrested on Wednesday night at his home in Madikeri by a special team led by District Crime Records Bureau (DCRB) Deputy Superintendent of Police V. S. Shaju. The investigation began on March 10, following a complaint from a resident of Vengara who reported a loss of Rs 1.08 crore on an online stock trading platform.
According to police reports, Roshan used the seized phones and SIM cards to receive one-time passwords (OTPs) from victims of cyber fraud. Mobile shops associated with Roshan’s network allegedly collected customers’ fingerprints without their knowledge, which were then used to activate the SIM cards he purchased for just Rs 50 each.
“This seizure of SIM cards is among the largest in the state linked to online fraudulent activities. We are still assessing the extent of this cybercrime. We have received valuable leads from Roshan, and the investigation is ongoing. Several individuals are involved in this scheme, operating from various parts of the country and even abroad,” stated S. Sasidharan, the police chief of Malappuram.