Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Police have uncovered a major international call-bypass racket operating out of Electronic City Phase-2, seizing a large cache of SIM boxes and more than 1,100 SIM cards used to illegally convert international calls into local calls. The operation, led jointly by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) and the Cyber Crime Police Station in coordination with the Department of Telecommunications and Vodafone Idea, was initiated following a complaint filed on 28 November by a registration officer from Vodafone Limited.
Illegal setup found in Electronic City building
The illegal operation was discovered on the fourth floor of Devaraj Building in Electronic City Phase-2. According to police, the gang had been routing Dubai-origin calls through local mobile networks using SIM-box technology, a method that bypasses legitimate international gateways. By disguising international calls as local ones, the group allegedly caused substantial financial losses to telecom service providers and posed significant national security risks due to the untraceable nature of such calls.
During the raid, officers found that the accused — a native of Kerala — had fled the premises just minutes before the police arrived. Investigators believe he is currently absconding in Dubai. Efforts to trace and apprehend him are underway.
Huge haul of SIM boxes and SIM cards
Deputy Commissioner of Crime Raja Imam Kasim led the search under the supervision of Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh. Officers seized 28 SIM boxes, 1,193 SIM cards from multiple telecom operators, a laptop, routers, an MI portable CCTV camera, documents and various connectivity devices. The seized equipment is valued at nearly ₹40 lakh.
Police said the scale of the seizure indicates a highly coordinated operation capable of routing thousands of calls simultaneously. Such setups are often linked to cybercrime syndicates operating across international borders.
Telecom losses and fraud concerns
While the illegal diversion of international calls results in substantial revenue losses for telecom companies, Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh emphasised that the greater threat lies in potential financial crimes.
“We are more concerned about financial fraud,” he said, explaining that networks using SIM-box technology often serve as infrastructure for scams, phishing attempts and unregulated VoIP services used by fraudsters.
“Until we get details from NCRP and the SIM data, we will not be in a position to say more. But in our opinion, they have mostly used it for financial fraud.”
Authorities are now analysing call records, device logs and SIM registration data to uncover possible links to larger cybercrime groups. The Department of Telecommunications is also examining whether the seized SIM cards were fraudulently obtained or activated using forged documents.
Investigation underway to trace wider network
Police officials say this raid may only be the beginning of a larger investigation. The sophisticated setup, high volume of SIM cards and the international connection suggest that the operation was part of a wider network facilitating illegal communication channels.
Investigators are coordinating with national cybercrime agencies to determine whether the devices were used in cases registered across India, including financial scams involving spoofed calls and impersonation fraud.
Police have registered a case and are currently tracking digital footprints, financial trails and communication logs to identify accomplices and uncover the full extent of the racket.