Police in Trichy dismantle SIM box farm used for cybercrime

Cybercrime police in Trichy have busted a SIM box farm and arrested a 40-year-old man for operating hardware used to facilitate international cyber scams. Authorities raided a location near Puthur and Woraiyur, seizing six multi-port GSM VoIP gateways, modems, and related equipment.

The seized devices, also known as SIM banks, allow operators to manage hundreds of SIM cards simultaneously. This technology enables scammers to route international VoIP traffic through local SIM cards, making fraudulent calls and messages appear as domestic activity. This method is used to bypass international termination charges and obscure the true origin of communications.

Investigations indicate the setup was used to support online investment frauds, including fake stock-market applications, cryptocurrency schemes, and WhatsApp stock-advisory groups. Over the last ten months, more than 100 residents lost approximately ₹4.5 crore to such crimes. The equipment is also linked to digital-arrest scams, sextortion, and phishing operations.