Thiruvananthapuram: The cyber wing of the Kerala state police has identified approximately 50 Keralites, including women, working for Cambodia-based operators involved in online financial fraud. Many of these firms are reportedly owned and operated by Chinese nationals who employ Keralites to target Indian victims.

The individuals working for these companies are mostly between the ages of 20 and 30. Their roles include gathering details of potential victims, procuring Indian SIM cards, and enticing people into investing in fraudulent schemes, according to police sources.

Modus Operandi Uncovered

The fraudulent operations came to light following the interrogation of a 22-year-old man named Mufliq, who was arrested by the Thrissur Rural police on Wednesday. A native of Varkala, Mufliq had just returned from Cambodia, where he had worked for about six months. The arrest was made based on information provided by the cyber wing.

Mufliq played a key role in procuring Indian SIM cards from a vendor in Kilimanoor, Thiruvananthapuram. These SIM cards were activated by his handlers in Cambodia and used to defraud victims. An initial investigation revealed that 59 SIM cards were obtained from Kerala using forged documents. The vendor, Vishnu, a resident of Kilimanoor, has also been arrested.

Details of the Scam

According to Mala station inspector Sunil Pulickal, Mufliq paid Vishnu ₹600 for each SIM card, which was obtained using documents that Vishnu’s customers had previously submitted to activate their own SIM cards. These SIM cards were then used by scammers to con people out of several lakhs of rupees.

The cyber wing's investigation revealed that the scammers used Indian SIM cards to contact their victims, often pretending to be women on social media to gain their trust.

In one case, a victim was defrauded of ₹3.85 lakh by a scammer posing as a female private bank employee. The scammer convinced the victim to open an account with the bank, claiming she would lose her job if she did not meet her targets. After the account was opened, the victim transferred money in several installments.

Ongoing Investigation

The cyber wing is taking the matter seriously and is committed to apprehending others involved in these financial crimes. Further arrests and legal actions are expected as the investigation continues.