On April 7, Sailesh Kumar and Manish, both residents of Khatikpada Bair, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, were arrested for allegedly providing SIM cards to cyber criminals, who used these numbers to cheat people through social media platforms. The two were arrested in connection with a fraud case filed in February, where Rs 50,000 was stolen under the pretext of booking a suit for purchase via Instagram.
According to ACP (Cyber) Vikas Kaushik, the mobile number used in the scam was registered under Sailesh Kumar’s name. He sold the SIM card to Manish, who later passed it on to another suspect involved in the fraud. In return for facilitating the transaction, Sailesh received Rs 1,000, and Manish received Rs 2,000. The duo also worked with cyber criminals to target individuals who could provide them with SIM cards or bank accounts, essential elements for carrying out cybercrime operations.
The police have previously arrested over 25 bankers and several others who were involved in providing SIM cards to cyber criminals. This crackdown on the network of cyber fraudsters is beginning to show positive results. Between January and March, complaints related to cyber fraud have decreased by approximately 3%, compared to the same period last year. The amount of money defrauded has dropped by 45%, while the number of arrests has increased by three times.
