Hyderabad: TGCSB, DoT bust SIM Box racket in Chandrayangutta; 3 arrested, 200 SIM cards seized

Hyderabad: Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have busted an illegal SIM Box racket in Chandrayangutta.

Three people have been arrested so far. A SIM Box and 200 fraudulently procured SIM cards were also seized.

Complaint leads to crackdown

The DoT, Hyderabad, had received a complaint through the Chakshu Portal about cyber fraud involving impersonation calls. Based on this input, TGCSB teams analyzed call records, conducted field enquiries, and tracked down the SIM Box setup to Chandrayangutta.

Who were arrested

The accused were identified as Hidayaullah (28), unemployed, Hafeez Baba Nagar, Ahad Khan (25), SIM card seller, Hafeez Baba Nagar, and Shaik Shoaib (24), SIM card salesman, Bandlaguda.

Officials said Hidayaullah, after incurring losses in his car business, was lured by a Hong Kong-based woman named Venissa into installing the SIM Box at his residence.

How the racket worked

Venissa, in contact with Hidayaullah through WhatsApp, guided him to set up the device via video call. Hidayaullah arranged internet connectivity and sought help from Ahad Khan and Shoaib, who worked as POS agents.

The duo fraudulently obtained SIM cards using Aadhaar details of unsuspecting migrant labourers in Kollur and supplied them to Hidayaullah. Nearly 500 SIM cards were procured in this manner.

Why SIM boxes are dangerous

Fraudsters use SIM Boxes to convert international VoIP calls into local calls, concealing the caller’s identity. Such devices are increasingly being misused to carry out cyber fraud and impersonation scams.

International links under probe

Preliminary evidence suggests the racket had overseas connections, with call traffic routed through the seized SIM Box. TGCSB said efforts are on to identify Venissa, trace the total number of SIMs issued, and nab other accused.

Case registered

A case (Cr.No.41/2025) has been booked under the IT Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Telecommunications Act, 2023, at the TGCSB headquarters.

Public Advisory

TGCSB Director Shikha Goel, IPS, urged citizens to be cautious while interacting with unknown foreign numbers, warning that SIM Box fraud is a growing tool in cybercrime.