Assam: CBI investigating 7 PoS agents in state who issued ‘Ghost SIM’ cards

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently registered a case based on a special report regarding SIM cards being used in cybercrimes and their Point of Sale (PoS). A total of 39 PoS agents were found to be using fraudulent methods to issue ‘ghost SIMs’ that were sold to cybercriminals and used to open mule bank accounts and make fraudulent calls to innocent people to defraud them.

Of the 39 PoS identified by CBI, as many as 7 belonged to Silchar and other places in Cachar district of Assam.   An analysis of the data provided by the Department of Telecommunications and I4C, Ministry of Home Affairs, revealed that approximately 1100 SIM cards were issued by the 39 PoS. These SIMs were used in various cybercrimes. Around 2200 complaints were found on the National Crime Reporting Portal against the 1100 SIM cards.

During verification of the complaints, the modus operandi came to light. For issuing SIM cards, eKYC of the customer is mandatory, and this has to be done by PoS agents. When a customer visits the PoS for purchase of a SIM card, the PoS agent does the eKYC of the said customer. During the EKYC, the PoS agent informs the customer that the process has failed and asks the customer for another eKYC. However, in the meantime, the PoS agents issue a SIM card during both the eKYC. The customer, however, has no knowledge of the ghost SIM card. The PoS then sells the ghost SIM cards to cybercriminals, which are used for opening mule bank accounts and other fraudulent activities.

Based on these findings, the CBI has registered a case no RC2202025E0009 in Delhi. Further investigation will reveal the extent to which the 7 PoS agents in Assam have issued the SIM cards and where they were used to commit cybercrimes.

The CBI suspects the role of executives of telecom service providers in the activation of these SIM cards.

 Also read: Assam: State Police Busts Fake SIM card Racket with Pakistan Links

Also Watch: