A cybercrime investigation into a fake Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) lottery scam and an online sextortion racket has uncovered a shocking identity fraud operation in Chhattisgarh, where SIM card retailers allegedly misused customers’ Aadhaar and biometric verification to activate unauthorised SIM connections.
The investigation has led to the arrest of two authorised SIM retailers under the state police’s Operation Cyber Shield. The accused allegedly exploited the mandatory Aadhaar-based e-KYC process by using customers’ fingerprints and eye-blink authentication repeatedly during SIM activation. While customers received the SIM card they had requested, additional SIM cards were secretly activated in their names without their knowledge.
Police said these illegally activated connections were later sold to cybercriminals operating across several states. The SIM cards were allegedly used in KBC lottery frauds, WhatsApp-based scams, sextortion cases and other forms of online financial crime, making it difficult for investigators to trace the real perpetrators since the mobile numbers were registered in the names of unsuspecting citizens.
The racket came to light during investigations into two separate cybercrime cases. In one case, a resident of Gariyaband district lost Rs 7.9 lakh after being lured into a fake investment scheme. In another, fraudsters posing as representatives of a KBC lottery convinced a victim that he had won a prize but demanded a “processing fee” before releasing the money.
According to police, the accused repeatedly obtained customers’ biometric authentication under the pretext of completing the mandatory e-KYC process. In some cases involving physical Aadhaar documents, they allegedly carried out the digital verification themselves and activated additional SIM cards without the customers’ knowledge.
Police tracked the operation by analysing telecom activation records, subscriber details, technical evidence and witness statements. During interrogation, the two Point of Sale (POS) agents allegedly admitted to misusing the Aadhaar verification process to generate unauthorised SIM connections.
Investigators are now working to identify the cybercriminals who purchased the illegally activated SIM cards and determine the full scale of the network. Authorities suspect that several more unauthorised SIMs may have been issued using the same modus operandi.
Police have advised citizens to remain vigilant while purchasing SIM cards, ensure that only one SIM is activated during the e-KYC process, and regularly verify the mobile connections linked to their Aadhaar to prevent identity misuse.
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Published By:
Sayan Ganguly
Published On:
Jul 9, 2026 13:56 IST
