Ahmedabad Police Bust Multinational 'Boss Scam' Cyber Network

The Ahmedabad City Police have dismantled a multinational cybercrime network involved in a 'Boss Scam' that targeted company directors and senior executives to trick employees into transferring large sums of money. Two residents of West Bengal, identified as Imran Ali Piyada and Injammul, were arrested and brought to Gujarat on transit warrants. Police allege the duo provided Cybercrime as a Service by supplying dummy SIM cards, mobile numbers, and WhatsApp accounts to a larger international network.

According to investigators, Piyada misused biometric details to procure SIM cards from providers including Airtel, Jio, Vi, and BSNL. He allegedly sold approximately 21,000 OTPs for e-commerce and gaming applications at an average price of 100 rupees each, and 900 OTPs for WhatsApp activation at 250 rupees each. The network reportedly connected nearly 10,000 devices, including laptops and mobile phones, which the police have since deactivated.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut stated that the operation had deep international connections. Technical analysis suggests the malware used was developed by criminals associated with China and utilized by a call center located in Islamabad, Pakistan. The investigation has linked the group to 251 complaints across 26 Indian states, covering financial frauds, hacking, and other cyber crimes.

While both reports cover the technical details of the arrests, they differ in emphasis. The center leaning report focuses heavily on the specific modus operandi of the arrested individuals and the variety of crimes linked to the SIM cards. In contrast, the center right leaning report emphasizes the national security implications by highlighting the links to Pakistan and China in its headline and lead paragraphs.