Enforcement Directorate Links 5,300 Indian SIMs to Rs 100 Crore Cyber Fraud Ring in Cambodia

NEW DELHI — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has identified 5,300 active Indian SIM cards in Cambodia linked to cyber fraud cases involving approximately Rs 100 crore targeting victims across India. The investigation reveals that Indian SIM vendors fraudulently activated mobile numbers and supplied them to Malaysian nationals operating from Cambodia.

The ED probe uncovered that the 5,300 SIMs represent a fraction of 36,000 active Indian mobile numbers currently in use in Cambodia. Authorities traced the supply chain to several Indian vendors, including Rahul Kumar Jha, Mohammad Sharif, Sandeep Bhatt, Prakash Bheel, Ramavatar Rathi, Hareesh Malakar, and Hemant Panwar. These vendors allegedly activated the SIM cards without proper documentation and transferred them to intermediaries who facilitated their movement to Southeast Asia.

Malaysian nationals received the SIM cards and utilized them to operate call centers and digital fraud operations from Cambodia. The fraudsters targeted victims in Indian cities including Jodhpur, Ajmer, Nagpur, and Ludhiana, using the Indian mobile numbers to lend credibility to their scams. The operations involved point-of-sale (POS) vendors who assisted in the activation and distribution process.

The ED stated that the fraudulent activation of Indian mobile numbers allowed the syndicate to bypass international telecommunications restrictions. By using genuine Indian SIM cards, the perpetrators could contact victims without raising immediate suspicion. The Rs 100 crore figure represents the value of confirmed fraud cases directly linked to the identified SIM cards.

Authorities have initiated proceedings against the named vendors in India. The investigation is ongoing, with officials working to trace the remaining 30,700 active Indian SIM cards in Cambodia to determine their involvement in criminal activities. The cross-border nature of the operation has complicated efforts to recover stolen funds and apprehend the Malaysian nationals operating the fraud rings.

The case highlights the vulnerability of India's telecommunications infrastructure to international fraud networks. SIM vendors are required to verify customer identities under strict regulations, but the investigation suggests these protocols were bypassed through collusion or negligence. The ED has not yet disclosed whether the vendors acted independently or as part of a larger organized network.

Questions remain regarding the full extent of the operation and the number of victims affected. Officials are coordinating with Cambodian and Malaysian authorities to dismantle the fraud infrastructure. The recovery of the Rs 100 crore and the identification of additional SIM cards involved in the scheme are pending further investigation.