Five Arrested for International Cybercrime

Visakhapatnam City Cyber Crime Police arrested five individuals for allegedly supplying SIM cards to international cybercrime networks. The accused—Puli Naga Tarakeswara Rao, Padamata Siva Krishna, Balla Naga Raju, Yerra Naga Venkata Sai Pawan Chandu, and Shaik Abdul Kareem—activated SIM cards without customers’ knowledge and provided them to criminal groups in countries including Thailand and Cambodia.

City Police Commissioner Dr. Shankhabrata Bagchi said the suspects also facilitated online accounts for fraudulent purposes. He warned that anyone aiding such crimes, including offering bank accounts, would face strict action.

The investigation began after a 59-year-old BHEL employee from Gajuwaka lost Rs 14 lakh to callers impersonating Bengaluru Police and later CBI officials. Police registered the case under Crime No. 219, citing sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.

Using the KHOJ application, authorities traced the suspects and discovered they targeted villagers and mobile shop customers, collecting biometric data under the pretext of SIM activation. Police estimate the network supplied 300–350 SIM cards.

Investigators said the cards enabled criminals to create fake email and social media accounts, facilitating scams such as OTP theft, digital arrest threats, and investment fraud.

Police continue to pursue the main facilitator, who remains at large. Citizens are advised to report cyber fraud at www.cybercrime.gov.in, call 1930, or contact the Visakhapatnam Commissioner’s office at 79950 95799.