Mumbai Police's Crime Branch has busted a suspected cyber fraud network involving thousands of SIM cards and multiple bank accounts, arresting three men after investigators traced transactions worth around ₹24 crore through just 10 accounts. Police are now working through the financial and technical trail to identify beneficiaries and establish whether the accused were part of a much wider network.
Who Was Arrested
The three accused have been identified as Islamuddin Salimuddin Sheikh (44), Abdul Razzaq Rauf (42), and Yasir Nasiruddin Sheikh (26). Police say the men were arrested following an investigation by Crime Branch Unit 5, and investigators are now examining the beneficiaries of the traced transactions to establish whether other people were also involved.
How the Alleged Network Reportedly Operated
Police allege the accused opened bank accounts in their own names as well as in the names of associates and other people, then purchased multiple SIM cards and linked them to those accounts. Once the accounts were opened, the accused allegedly took control of the passbooks, ATM cards, cheque books, SIM cards, and other banking instruments tied to them, essentially building a pool of ready-made infrastructure that could then be used to facilitate cyber fraud.
The case is a striking illustration of how bank accounts and large numbers of SIM cards can become the actual operational backbone behind moving money generated through online scams.
How the ₹24 Crore Was Actually Detected
Crime Branch Unit 5 found that complaints had already been registered against these bank accounts through the 1930 cybercrime helpline. Police have so far identified 32 such complaints, and traced transactions worth ₹24 crore flowing through just 10 accounts, a striking concentration that made tracing the actual money trail a genuinely central part of the ongoing investigation. Investigators are now working to establish exactly where this money came from, where it was subsequently transferred, and who ultimately benefited from it.
What Police Recovered
The scale of the alleged operation became far clearer once police completed their seizures. Investigators recovered 88 bank passbooks, 143 cheque books, 100 ATM cards, 24 mobile phones, 167 SIM cards, and two laptops, alongside other supporting documents. Technical investigation further indicated the accused had allegedly used a staggering 2,898 SIM cards for cyber fraud activities in total, a number that underscores just how extensive the underlying infrastructure allegedly was.
Charges and Custody
A case has been registered at Malad police station under Sections 318(4), 61, 45, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. All three accused have been arrested and remanded to police custody until September 19, with investigators continuing to analyse both the technical and financial evidence to determine the full extent of the network and identify anyone else who may have been involved.
Why SIM Cards and Bank Accounts Matter So Much in Cases Like This
Cyber fraud networks often depend heavily on multiple accounts and communication numbers, both to receive stolen money and to operate anonymous online identities, deliberately making the financial trail harder to follow. This case shows why suspicious-account complaints matter so much: police only identified this specific network because 32 separate complaints had already been logged against these accounts through the 1930 helpline, evidence that consistent reporting genuinely helps investigators connect otherwise scattered dots.
Mumbai Police's 1930 cyber helpline has been operating round the clock since May 2022, letting victims report fraud immediately so police can alert banks and attempt to freeze defrauded money before it disappears further into the financial system.
How to Protect Yourself
People should never hand over their SIM cards, bank accounts, ATM cards, passbooks, or cheque books to anyone in exchange for money or a commission. If an unfamiliar transaction shows up in your account, or you suspect you've encountered cyber fraud in any form, report it immediately through the 1930 cybercrime helpline, quick reporting genuinely improves the chances of stopping the movement of funds before they're gone entirely.
FAQs
Q1. How much money was traced in this cyber fraud investigation?
Around ₹24 crore, traced through just 10 bank accounts, linked to 32 complaints registered via the 1930 cybercrime helpline.
Q2. How many people were arrested, and what charges have been filed?
Three men were arrested and charged under Sections 318(4), 61, 45, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Section 66(D) of the IT Act.
Q3. How extensive was the network's alleged infrastructure?
Police seized 88 passbooks, 143 cheque books, 100 ATM cards, 167 SIM cards, and 24 mobile phones, with technical investigation indicating up to 2,898 SIM cards had allegedly been used in total.
Q4. What should someone do if they notice a suspicious transaction on their account?
Report it immediately through the 1930 cybercrime helpline, quick reporting improves the chances of banks freezing the money before it moves further through the financial system.