Delhi Police successfully dismantled a cross-border cyber fraud network and arrested three individuals involved in large-scale digital fraud operations across India and internationally. The accused, arrested from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, were linked to cyber criminals operating in countries like Cambodia, Thailand, Canada, and more.
The breakthrough came after a complaint was filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal about a financial fraud case involving ₹94,000. The victim, who received a call on December 19, 2024, from a number impersonating officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), was threatened with arrest over alleged misuse of her mobile number for illegal activities. Fearing arrest, the victim transferred the money via UPI to multiple accounts under different names.
Upon receiving the complaint, an FIR was filed at the Cyber Police Station of Outer North District, prompting an investigation. Using call detail records and tracing money trails, the police tracked down the culprits and uncovered their operations involving Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) numbers and fraudulent call routing systems.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Nidhin Valsan, the investigation revealed that the accused were involved in facilitating fraudulent calls through SIP technology. SIP trunking is a service that allows phone calls over the internet, bypassing traditional phone systems. The accused used SIP to make it appear as though calls were originating from legitimate Indian landline numbers, making it harder to trace their true origins.
The arrested individuals, identified as Ajaydeep, Abhishek Srivastava, and Ashutosh Bora, were found to be involved in setting up and maintaining SIP services for international cyber criminals. Ajaydeep, a B.Tech and MBA graduate, had rented an office in Lucknow to operate the SIP trunking system. Abhishek, a trained computer and CCTV technician, assisted in setting up the infrastructure, while Ashutosh, a law student from Gurugram, acted as a key facilitator for the international cybercrime network, aiding criminals from Cambodia, Thailand, and Canada.
Ajaydeep and Abhishek were arrested on January 29 from Lucknow and Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, while Ashutosh was apprehended on February 2. During the investigation, the police also uncovered sophisticated equipment used in the fraud operation, including high-tech laptops, mobile phones, routers, and fake rent agreements.
The accused further revealed their connection to Mohammad Ali, an Indore-based mastermind believed to be coordinating fraud operations across multiple countries. Ali is suspected of running various fraud modules, including the digital arrest scam, from his base in India.
The fraud network exploited modern technologies like autodialers and cloud PBX soft switches to manage thousands of calls, using SIP trunking services to bypass international call monitoring systems. This sophisticated operation made it challenging for authorities to trace the origins of the fraudulent calls.
Police officials have now identified the key role that SIP services played in facilitating this large-scale cyber fraud, which involved using fraudulent tactics to extort money from victims across the country. Authorities continue to investigate the scope of the operation and track down other potential members of the criminal network.
The Delhi Police’s crackdown on this international fraud ring highlights the increasing complexity of cyber crimes and the need for greater vigilance in identifying and combating such criminal activities.
Sources By Agencies
