Hyderabad:In a joint operation with the department of telecommunications (DoT) and Ramagundam police, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) on Thursday busted an illegal SIM box setup in Jannaram mandal of Mancherial district and arrested four persons.The SIM boxes were found to be remotely controlled from the Golden Triangle region, including parts of Cambodia and Myanmar, fast emerging as hubs for cyber financial fraud and cyber slavery. The TGCSB officials seized five SIM box devices, 230 SIM cards, a laptop, an internet modem, four mobile phones, an inverter and other related hardware.The arrested were: Yandrapu Kamesh, 24, a polytechnic (mechanical) student from Parvathipuram, AP; Bavu Bapaiah, 43; Bavu Madhukar, 32, of Laxmipur, Jagtial; and Gotla Rajeshwer, 40, of Kistapur. Polavalsula Sai Krishna, Bonu Jayavardhan and Simhadri, all from Parvathipuram, are absconding.TGCSB director Shikha Goel said the operation was based on intelligence shared by the DoT through its Chakshu Portal, which flagged suspicious cyber fraud activity involving impersonation calls in the area.A detailed enquiry by the DoT helped link multiple IMEIs to the SIM box device. Acting on this input, TGCSB teams analysed call detail records (CDRs), conducted field enquiries and gathered local intelligence to accurately trace the SIM box location.“SIM boxes are illegal devices capable of holding multiple SIM cards and routing internet-based calls through local mobile networks, making them appear as regular domestic calls. Even with one or two operators, they can make a high volume of calls used in impersonation scams, financial fraud or threats while evading detection,” Goel explained.Fraudsters also exploit SIM boxes to route international calls illegally, bypassing telecom regulations. Authorities suspect the seized devices were operated remotely from the Golden Triangle region.
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