CBI Registers FIR Against 39 PoS Agents for Issuing 1,100 Ghost SIM Cards Used in Cybercrimes

In a major crackdown on cybercrime networks, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against 39 Point of Sale (PoS) agents across India for allegedly issuing over 1,100 ghost SIM cards that were later used in large-scale cyber frauds.

The FIR, filed on May 8, follows a detailed probe based on complaints received through the National Crime Reporting Portal. The CBI revealed that a total of 1,930 PoS agents had issued over 64,000 SIM cards using forged or misused documents. These SIM cards were reportedly used in cybercrimes targeting victims in Southeast Asian countries, including cases of digital arrest scams, impersonation, UPI fraud, fake advertisements, and investment fraud.

According to the CBI, the agents acted in collusion with cybercriminals and possibly with unknown executives of telecom service providers. The 39 accused PoS agents are from West Bengal (15), Uttar Pradesh (9), Assam (7), Maharashtra (4), and one each from Bihar, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

“These agents knowingly participated in a criminal conspiracy to bypass e-KYC norms and issue multiple SIM cards, many of which failed re-verification checks conducted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) after frauds were committed,” the CBI stated in its FIR.

The investigation found that around 2,200 complaints were linked to SIM cards issued by the 39 accused agents. These ghost SIM cards were often registered in the names of unsuspecting individuals without their knowledge and were then sold to cybercriminals.

Modus Operandi: Fake e-KYC and Ghost SIM Cards

Explaining the fraud mechanism, officials said PoS agents would falsely claim a customer’s e-KYC had failed and request another attempt. In reality, both attempts led to SIM issuance, with one being a ghost SIM unknown to the customer. These ghost SIMs were then sold to cybercrime networks to facilitate illegal activities and open mule bank accounts.

The CBI noted that many of these SIMs were active in Southeast Asia, and the issue came to light amid reports that over 5,000 Indians were trapped in Cambodia and forced to conduct cyber frauds. Earlier this year, the government formed an inter-ministerial panel to identify and plug systemic loopholes in banking, telecom, and immigration sectors.

The panel’s findings prompted the CBI to take action, with the FIR forming a crucial part of the government’s response to the growing menace of international cyber fraud involving Indian telecom resources.

Nationwide Crackdown Underway

State police across India have already arrested several PoS agents involved in the racket. The CBI is continuing its investigation to trace the role of telecom company executives who may have helped activate these ghost SIMs.

As cybercrime cases involving Indian SIM cards soar globally, this case underscores the urgent need for stricter oversight and reforms in telecom verification processes.