An investigation into a Rs 1.5 crore ‘Boss Scam’ in Ahmedabad has blown open a sprawling international cybercrime network, with police uncovering around 4,500 SIM cards procured for cybercrime operations and tracing suspected links to China and Pakistan.

The case began in June, when an employee was duped into transferring Rs 1.5 crore after fraudsters impersonated a senior executive or ‘boss’. Acting swiftly, Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police recovered Rs 1.3 crore of the defrauded money and returned it to the victim.

But what initially appeared to be a sophisticated impersonation fraud soon led investigators to a much larger cybercrime operation.

During the probe, police arrested Imran Ali Pyaada from West Bengal’s 24 Parganas and Injamul Mujibar Molla from Kolkata. Eight electronic devices were recovered from the accused, including one capable of operating four SIM cards simultaneously.

The breakthrough came during questioning, when investigators discovered that the accused had procured around 4,500 SIM cards to facilitate cybercrime operations.

CHINA-DEVELOPED MALWARE, PAKISTAN LINKS

The investigation also uncovered suspected international links. Police found that malware developed in China was being used by the network and operated from Hong Kong.

Investigators further traced a call centre linked to the network to Islamabad, while the proceeds of the fraud were reportedly routed through multiple countries to conceal the money trail.

The international trail prompted the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime team to expand its investigation in coordination with the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C).

251 COMPLAINTS LINKED TO ACCUSED NUMBERS

The scale of the operation became clearer when investigators found that 251 complaints had already been registered on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal against mobile numbers linked to the accused.

According to Ahmedabad Police, the probe has exposed what is being described as a large-scale ‘Cybercrime-as-a-Service’ network, offering ready-made services to cybercriminals operating from overseas.

The network used WhatsApp groups to provide services to other criminals, including OTP-related assistance, enabling them to carry out fraudulent transactions without directly handling every stage of the operation.

The investigation has also uncovered cyber infrastructure connections to both Pakistan and China, raising concerns over the increasingly international and organised nature of cyber fraud.

BOSS SCAM LEADS TO BIGGER CYBERCRIME NETWORK

What began with a single Rs 1.5 crore ‘Boss Scam’ has therefore opened a much wider investigation into a suspected ecosystem built around SIM cards, malware, call centres, OTP services and international money laundering channels.

Ahmedabad Police and I4C have urged citizens to remain cautious of calls and messages from people claiming to be bosses or senior officials.

Police have advised people to independently verify any demand for money or suspicious transaction before transferring funds, particularly when the request comes through an unfamiliar number or digital platform.

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