In a shocking turn of events, two senior officials of a prominent Indian telecom firm were apprehended by the Gurugram police for their alleged involvement in facilitating cyber fraud activities. These officials were accused of providing virtual phone numbers to overseas cybercrime syndicates, enabling them to carry out fraudulent schemes and deceive unsuspecting individuals in various cities across the nation.
The authorities believe that a staggering 2,900 virtual numbers were issued by the two individuals in collusion with other accomplices. These criminal gangs reportedly paid the telecom company a substantial monthly sum, ranging between ₹8-10 lakh, for each virtual number. Most of these numbers were distributed within the past four to five months, signaling a recent surge in fraudulent activities orchestrated through these virtual channels.
The arrested suspects were identified as Neeraj Walia, hailing from Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, and Hemant Sharma, a resident of East of Kailash in south Delhi. Following a round of questioning, the two individuals were taken into custody by the police. Priyanshu Dewan, the assistant commissioner of police specializing in cybercrime, shed light on the modus operandi employed by the accused.
It was revealed that the duo had allocated three virtual numbers to a front company listed under false premises in Dundahera, Sector 21. Walia was responsible for site verifications, yet he bypassed the requisite checks and approved the issuance of numbers for a fictitious firm named Ekamdarsh Services Limited, with a non-existent plot number in Dundahera. Subsequently, Sharma, a senior manager and team leader, granted further authorization for the distribution of these numbers to cybercriminals, in violation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s guidelines.
One such instance involved the fraudulent recruitment of a woman in Gurugram, who was enticed with a part-time job drafting hotel reviews on social media platforms for monetary compensation. After initially receiving meager payments, she was coerced into depositing money to undertake additional tasks, ultimately falling victim to the scam. The investigation eventually traced back to the virtual numbers issued by the telecom employees, unveiling the extent of their collaboration with cyber fraudsters.
WhatsApp conversations retrieved from the arrested individuals also exposed their involvement in provisioning a multitude of connections for SIP Over AWS Numbers, DID numbers, COCP numbers, and cloud-based services to criminal syndicates operating from China and other Southeast Asian countries. Walia and Sharma were subjected to thorough interrogation while additional suspects linked to the creation of shell companies and issuance of numbers to foreign entities are being pursued for arrest.
Following a complaint lodged by the defrauded victim, an FIR was registered against the telecom officials and other unidentified culprits under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code at the Cybercrime police station (east). The authorities continue to delve into the intricate web of cyber fraud orchestrated by these individuals, aiming to bring all perpetrators involved to justice.