Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Dec 29: The cybercrime landscape has undergone a significant shift, with fraudsters now operating primarily from overseas countries rather than from North Indian states or Delhi. These criminals are increasingly targeting victims through direct mobile or WhatsApp calls instead of internet-based calls.

A concerning trend has emerged: local Indians are aiding these international fraudsters by providing them with SIM cards and bank account details. Investigations have revealed that cybercrimes often involve culprits based in countries like China, Taiwan, and Thailand.

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In a recent case registered in Mangaluru, it was discovered that money stolen from an Indian bank account had been transferred to a Dubai account and withdrawn there.

City police commissioner Anupam Agarwal stated, “Several arrests have been made in cases involving fraud related to investments in the stock market, overseas employment, and SIM card sales. Investigations are ongoing, with assistance from the CID and other higher agencies.”

Investigations have also uncovered that overseas fraudsters are recruiting Indians to target their fellow citizens. Hundreds of Indian SIM cards, including those sourced from Mangaluru and the coastal region, have been smuggled abroad. Fraudsters use these SIM cards and employ Indians overseas to deceive their victims, leveraging local numbers and dialects to gain trust.

In a recent breakthrough, police arrested two individuals who had sent over 500 SIM cards to fraudsters in Dubai and other countries from Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada. The accused paid Rs 200–300 per SIM to acquaintances and sold them to cybercriminals.

One case from September involved a victim losing Rs 10.84 lac in a stock market investment scam. During the investigation, it was revealed that one of the accused had procured and shipped more than 500 SIM cards to Dubai.

In July, another victim lost Rs 28.18 lac in a part-time job scam. Five individuals from Bengaluru and Mysuru were arrested in connection with this case. Among them, two had opened multiple bank accounts, both in their own and others’ names, to facilitate money transfers for the fraudsters. These individuals received Rs 3,000–5,000 per account, complicating police efforts to trace the masterminds.

Authorities continue to crack down on this growing cybercrime network, emphasizing the need for vigilance and awareness among the public.