New Delhi, February 4 (PTI): Delhi Police has successfully uncovered a large-scale cyber fraud network with international links, arresting three individuals who were operating from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The fraudsters were involved in digital arrest and investment scams in collaboration with cyber criminals based in Cambodia, Thailand, Canada, and other countries, officials reported on Tuesday.
The police operation also led to the dismantling of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) numbers and terminals, which were being used to route fraudulent calls, authorities added.
The breakthrough came after a complaint was filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), detailing a financial scam amounting to Rs 94,000. The complainant had received a call on December 19, 2024, from a number pretending to be from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The callers falsely claimed that her mobile number was being misused for illegal activities, threatening her with arrest unless she made payments. Fearing for her safety, the complainant transferred money via UPI to various accounts under different names.
Following the complaint, an FIR was registered under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Cyber Police Station in Outer North District, leading to an extensive investigation.
By tracking money trails and analyzing call detail records, police traced the fraudsters and their SIP trunking operations, culminating in the arrest of three key suspects: Ajaydeep (32), Abhishek Srivastava (34), and Ashutosh Bora (30).
Details of the Accused:
Ajaydeep, a B.Tech and MBA graduate who previously worked for an NGO, had rented an office in Lucknow for SIP trunk call services. Abhishek, trained in computer and CCTV hardware repair, was instrumental in setting up SIP-based infrastructure. Ashutosh, a law student from Gurugram, played a pivotal role as a facilitator for international cyber criminals. He was directly linked to criminal operations in Cambodia, Thailand, and Canada, helping provide SIP services for cyber gangs.
Ajaydeep and Abhishek were arrested on January 29, 2025, from Lucknow and Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, while Ashutosh was apprehended on February 2.
The Technology Behind the Scam:
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Nidhin Valsan explained the role of SIP technology in the scam. SIP, or Session Initiation Protocol, is a communication protocol that allows phone calls to be made over the internet, bypassing traditional phone lines. SIP service providers connect office phone systems to the internet, offering features like call forwarding and voicemail.
The accused exploited SIP trunking, a system used for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, to facilitate illegal call terminations. By using SIP services, the scammers made it appear as though their calls originated from legitimate Indian landline numbers, making it harder to trace the source.
The modus operandi involved posing as officials from CBI, TRAI, or the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), falsely accusing victims of criminal activities, and threatening them with arrest unless they paid money. Victims were coerced into transferring funds via UPI to mule accounts.
The fraudsters employed advanced technology, such as autodialers and cloud-based PBX soft switches, to manage thousands of calls simultaneously. By leveraging SIP trunks, they bypassed international call monitoring systems, making their activities nearly impossible to detect.
Seizures and Further Investigations:
During the raid, police recovered numerous hi-tech devices, including laptops, desktop computers, routers, media gateways, and mobile phones. They also seized fake rent agreements, further confirming the elaborate nature of the operation.
During questioning, the accused revealed their connection with Mohammad Ali, an Indore-based mastermind suspected of coordinating digital arrest scams across multiple countries. Authorities are now investigating Ali's role in the broader international network.
This operation marks a significant step in combating the rising threat of cross-border cyber frauds, with Delhi Police vowing to continue their efforts to dismantle such criminal networks.
The police operation also led to the dismantling of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) numbers and terminals, which were being used to route fraudulent calls, authorities added.
The breakthrough came after a complaint was filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), detailing a financial scam amounting to Rs 94,000. The complainant had received a call on December 19, 2024, from a number pretending to be from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The callers falsely claimed that her mobile number was being misused for illegal activities, threatening her with arrest unless she made payments. Fearing for her safety, the complainant transferred money via UPI to various accounts under different names.
Following the complaint, an FIR was registered under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Cyber Police Station in Outer North District, leading to an extensive investigation.
By tracking money trails and analyzing call detail records, police traced the fraudsters and their SIP trunking operations, culminating in the arrest of three key suspects: Ajaydeep (32), Abhishek Srivastava (34), and Ashutosh Bora (30).
Details of the Accused:
Ajaydeep, a B.Tech and MBA graduate who previously worked for an NGO, had rented an office in Lucknow for SIP trunk call services. Abhishek, trained in computer and CCTV hardware repair, was instrumental in setting up SIP-based infrastructure. Ashutosh, a law student from Gurugram, played a pivotal role as a facilitator for international cyber criminals. He was directly linked to criminal operations in Cambodia, Thailand, and Canada, helping provide SIP services for cyber gangs.
Ajaydeep and Abhishek were arrested on January 29, 2025, from Lucknow and Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, while Ashutosh was apprehended on February 2.
The Technology Behind the Scam:
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Nidhin Valsan explained the role of SIP technology in the scam. SIP, or Session Initiation Protocol, is a communication protocol that allows phone calls to be made over the internet, bypassing traditional phone lines. SIP service providers connect office phone systems to the internet, offering features like call forwarding and voicemail.
The accused exploited SIP trunking, a system used for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, to facilitate illegal call terminations. By using SIP services, the scammers made it appear as though their calls originated from legitimate Indian landline numbers, making it harder to trace the source.
The modus operandi involved posing as officials from CBI, TRAI, or the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), falsely accusing victims of criminal activities, and threatening them with arrest unless they paid money. Victims were coerced into transferring funds via UPI to mule accounts.
The fraudsters employed advanced technology, such as autodialers and cloud-based PBX soft switches, to manage thousands of calls simultaneously. By leveraging SIP trunks, they bypassed international call monitoring systems, making their activities nearly impossible to detect.
Seizures and Further Investigations:
During the raid, police recovered numerous hi-tech devices, including laptops, desktop computers, routers, media gateways, and mobile phones. They also seized fake rent agreements, further confirming the elaborate nature of the operation.
During questioning, the accused revealed their connection with Mohammad Ali, an Indore-based mastermind suspected of coordinating digital arrest scams across multiple countries. Authorities are now investigating Ali's role in the broader international network.
This operation marks a significant step in combating the rising threat of cross-border cyber frauds, with Delhi Police vowing to continue their efforts to dismantle such criminal networks.
