Indian Police Uncover Cambodia-Based Cyber Fraud Network Using Indian SIM Cards

Jodhpur Police have dismantled a large international cyber fraud network allegedly led by Malaysian nationals operating from Cambodia, which is accused of cheating Indian citizens of more than Rs 1,100 crore through investment and trading scams.

The operation uncovered the large-scale misuse of Indian SIM cards procured through local agents, with coordination meetings reportedly held at hotels in Jaipur. Six individuals, including SIM distributors and sellers from Rajasthan and Punjab, have been arrested so far.

According to police, the fraud network supplied Indian SIM cards to cybercriminals based overseas, who used them to carry out investment and trading scams targeting victims across India.

Jodhpur Police Commissioner Om Prakash identified four alleged masterminds — Lee Jian Hui, Lo Di Khen, Chin Yu Ming and Leong Ken Nath — all Malaysian nationals. Look Out Circulars have been issued against all four.

The commissioner said the suspects travelled from Malaysia to Delhi and then to Jaipur, where they met local SIM suppliers at hotels. The SIM cards were subsequently routed to Malaysia and used in Cambodia to conduct cyber fraud operations.

Investigators found that 5,378 SIM cards were directly linked to cyber fraud complaints involving losses of Rs 1,102 crore nationwide. In Rajasthan alone, the misuse of more than 200 mobile numbers resulted in fraud exceeding Rs 25 crore. Complaints were registered across multiple states, underscoring the scale of the operation.

The probe began after police received repeated complaints involving fraud carried out under the guise of trading and investment opportunities. Intelligence suggested that a major cybercrime network was being run from Cambodia using Indian SIM cards.

Two related cases had previously been registered at Jodhpur's Bhagat Ki Kothi and Airport police stations. A detailed investigation lasting nearly six weeks confirmed that SIM cards activated in India were being used abroad to commit fraud.

Police said they employed a reverse trade analysis approach, tracking the network from its organisers rather than focusing solely on low-level operatives. The investigation revealed that between September and November, approximately 3.2 lakh SIM cards activated in India were operational in Cambodia, with around 36,000 of them functioning on international roaming.

Further analysis narrowed the list to 5,378 SIM cards directly involved in cyber fraud cases. One SIM, registered in the name of a Jodhpur resident, Murad Khan, was linked to a Rs 89.42 lakh fraud case in Cyberabad, Telangana. The SIM had been issued by agent Prakash Bhil and later sent to Cambodia.

Prakash Bhil was arrested on January 18, 2025. During interrogation, he disclosed that he worked with a network of SIM vendors who allegedly issued multiple SIM cards to customers under the pretext of biometric failures, diverting extra SIMs to the fraud syndicate.

Investigators said agents typically sent batches of 200 to 1,000 SIM cards to Malaysia, earning between Rs 200 and Rs 500 per SIM. More than 20,000 SIM cards were found to have been recharged simultaneously via a Singapore-based intermediary using Indian telecom operators, allowing them to remain active abroad while on roaming.

Police said they will soon deactivate more than 5,400 SIM cards and disable WhatsApp accounts linked to them to prevent further fraud. An additional 36,000 roaming numbers remain under scrutiny, and further arrests are expected as the investigation continues.