In a coordinated operation targeting international cybercrime, local cyber police have uncovered a China-linked fraud network operating from Indian soil, exposing how overseas scammers masked their calls using domestic infrastructure.
Cyber Crime Police Station East dismantled the syndicate and arrested 3 key operatives who were providing calling support to foreign fraudsters. The accused were intercepted in Delhi while trying to flee by bus to Kathmandu.
During the raid, police seized a 20-port physical SIM box, a laptop, and multiple smartphones installed inside the device. Early findings showed the setup could place over 20,000 calls per day. These calls were linked to gaming scams, fake investment schemes, and other online frauds aimed at Indian users.
The arrested individuals were identified as Karma (32), Lobsang Tsultim (33), and Ngawang Gyaltshen (35). Karma is from Dimapur, Tsultim from Mandi, and Gyaltshen from Dharamshala. Police said Karma and Tsultim were arrested on February 14, while Gyaltshen was picked up on February 16 near the Majnu Ka Tila area.
Investigators revealed that the trio had installed a virtual SIM box in Gurugram. This allowed foreign cybercriminals to place calls that appeared to originate from Indian numbers, making scams harder to detect and more convincing.
Questioning revealed the operation was being run on instructions from a China-based handler identified as Tsega. The handler allegedly arranged the technical setup and routed scam calls through India. Officials said the SIM box was modified to hold multiple smartphones, including Redmi devices, enabling automated bulk calling.
Police also found that the group used a customised APK to route calls directly to Chinese cyber gangs. Communication with the handler was done via WeChat, which has been banned in India since 2020.
Another key finding was that Tsultim and Gyaltshen were born in China and have lived in India as refugees for nearly 15 years. Both are fluent in Chinese and Taiwanese languages, which investigators say were used to manage operations and coordinate call traffic.
The accused were paid for setting up and maintaining the SIM box, while fraud proceeds were sent overseas. Police are now tracing money trails and identifying more links in the network. The trio was produced in court, taken on police remand, and later sent to judicial custody.
“The investigation is focused on establishing the full scale of the operation, including the number of victims and the total amount siphoned off overseas. Such SIM box-based fraud networks pose a serious threat to digital security, and strict action will continue,” officials said.
Authorities urged citizens to report suspicious calls immediately and avoid sharing personal or banking details with unknown callers.
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