Patna: In a bid to crack down on cyber fraud linked to international syndicates, Bihar’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU) has directed telecom companies to re-verify all SIM card distributors and agents across the state. The move follows the unravelling of a sophisticated scam in Supaul involving SIM boxes—devices used to route international calls as local ones, thereby bypassing legitimate networks and enabling fraud.
At a high-level coordination meeting held in Patna on Tuesday, EOU Additional Director General Nayyar Hasnain Khan said that lapses in the current SIM distribution system were compromising public safety, individual privacy and overall law and order. He stressed the urgency of reform, especially with the state heading into an election cycle.
“The security of the state and its citizens cannot be taken lightly. Any suspicious activity related to cyber crime must be reported to the police without delay,” Khan told representatives of major telecom firms including Jio, Airtel, BSNL and Vodafone Idea.
Two sub-groups were formed during the meeting to facilitate coordination between telecom operators and law enforcement. These groups will focus on regular dialogue, the development of technical solutions, and long-term strategies to counter evolving forms of cyber crime.
A presentation by SP Vinay Tiwari laid bare the extent of the SIM box fraud network, revealing the involvement of foreign entities, weaknesses in the SIM supply chain, and the use of cryptocurrency for transactions. The EOU called for widespread awareness campaigns to address the growing threat.
