Telangana Police arrest SIM card fraudster involved in cybercrime

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], September 24 (ANI): The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has successfully apprehended a SIM card fraudster involved in a cybercrime in Karimnagar.
The accused, Mohammad Asif Pasha, was arrested on September 23.
"The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has successfully apprehended a SIM card fraudster involved in a cybercrime in Karimnagar. The accused, Mohammad Asif Pasha, was arrested on September 23, 2024. He, along with Jahangir (A-2), devised a plan to illegally siphon funds from the bank accounts of Md Samiuddin, a retired Superintendent from the Irrigation Department who passed away in 2022," as per a press release from Telangana Cyber Security Bureau.
Md Samiuddin, who retired in 2013 and passed away in 2022, had accounts in SBI and Canara Bank, with his phone number linked to both accounts, as well as to the SBI account of his sister, Sabiha Sulthana (the complainant). Jahangir, a fellow employee of the Irrigation Department, exploited his acquaintance with Md Samiuddin and shared personal information with Mohammad Asif Pasha (A-1) to commit fraud.
"In June 2024, the accused blocked Md Samiuddin's Airtel SIM card and fraudulently reactivated it under Mohammad Asif Pasha's name using forged identity documents," as per the release.
They used this SIM card to access banking apps such as PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay. Through these platforms, they transferred Rs 20,18,557 from the accounts of Md. Samiuddin and his sister, Sabiha Sulthana. They also paid credit card bills and transferred the money to their own Bank of India account.
"Following a thorough investigation, the Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS) in Karimnagar traced and arrested A-1, Mohammad Asif Pasha, in Karimnagar," the release stated.
During the arrest, Rs 18,00,000 in cash, a cell phone, credit cards, and credit card bills were seized. The accused was subsequently produced before the Hon'ble Magistrate. Efforts are ongoing to trace and apprehend A-2, Jahangir.
"Shikha Goel, IPS, Director, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau commended the CCPS, Karimnagar team, led by DSP V Narsimha Reddy, for their exceptional work in identifying and apprehending the accused," as per the release. (ANI)