Sambalpur Police Bust Fake SIM Racket Feeding Jamtara Scams

Sambalpur Cyber Police have dismantled a fake SIM card racket linked to cybercrime networks in Jamtara, Jharkhand.

Three individuals — Suraj Bag (24), Malati Oram alias Mala (29), and Sheikh Parwez alias Papu (32) — were arrested for issuing multiple SIM cards using genuine customer identity documents.

According to police, the accused provided one SIM to the customer while retaining extra cards, which were later sold illegally.

These SIMs were traced to cyber fraud operations in Jamtara.

During the raid, police seized four mobile phones, four active SIMs, 120 sealed blank  SIM cards, bank passbooks, Aadhaar cards, a cheque book, a PhonePe QR scanner, affidavits, a rent agreement, and promotional materials.

Investigators believe the racket operated close to official retail chains, using legitimate paperwork to multiply SIMs.

Authorities are now probing the wider network, including the number of SIMs issued, recipients, and financial transactions.

Police have warned that unauthorised SIMs created on someone else’s ID can be misused for fraud and impersonation.

Retailers and KYC staff are urged to remain vigilant, as even a single unauthorised SIM can end up in cybercrime cases.

With this bust, one supply line has been cut, but officials caution that the larger pipeline may still be active.