Sim-swap frauds on rise; expert gang operating in Bengaluru, suspect police

BENGALURU: A recent complaint lodged by telecom major Airtel over a sim-swapping fraud perpetrated by insiders using forged documents is no stray case. Bengaluru city police are probing scores of instances of sim-swapping with financial implications and involving other mobile phone service providers.

Recently, unidentified miscreants made four attempts to swap the sim card of a city-based industrialist, according to an FIR registered by Cubbon Park police. Investigation revealed the industrialist used a Vodafone sim and had a balance of Rs 2.5 crore in his bank account, which miscreants would have easily laid their hands on if their attempts had been successful.