Hyderabad Police Arrest 66 in ‘Operation Octopus 3.0’, Bust Ghost SIM Network Linked to Rs 101.87 Crore Cyber Crimes
Hyderabad Police arrested 66 people and seized 544 ghost SIM cards during Operation Octopus 3.0 linked to cyber crimes worth Rs 101.87 crore.
Hyderabad: Hyderabad City Police launched “Operation Octopus 3.0” against a ghost SIM network that had allegedly become a major tool for cyber criminals. As part of the operation, 18 special police teams conducted simultaneous raids across 13 states and arrested 66 accused persons. Police seized 544 SIM cards and revealed that the ghost SIMs were allegedly linked to 76 cyber crimes involving approximately Rs. 101.87 crore across the country.
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Hyderabad Police Launch ‘Operation Octopus 3.0’
Hyderabad City Police said the operation was launched to crack down on illegal ghost SIM networks that were helping cyber criminals commit fraud.
Police stated that after earlier action against mule account holders and bank officials who allegedly assisted illegal activities, the focus has now shifted to ghost SIM systems that have become a key resource for cyber crimes.
66 Arrested, 544 SIM Cards Seized
As part of “Operation Octopus 3.0,” Hyderabad City Police formed 18 special teams and carried out simultaneous raids in 13 states across India.
During the operation:
- 66 accused persons were arrested
- 544 SIM cards were seized
Police investigation revealed that the ghost SIM cards were allegedly used in 76 cyber crime cases involving around Rs. 101.87 crore nationwide.
Vodafone Idea, Airtel and Jio PoS Agents Among Arrested
According to Hyderabad City Police, the arrested persons include 20 Point of Sale (PoS) agents linked to:
- Vodafone Idea
- Airtel
- Jio
Police alleged that these agents violated telecom rules while issuing SIM cards.
Police Reveal Dangerous Fraud Method
Police described the modus operandi used by the accused as highly dangerous.
According to investigators, the accused allegedly:
- Misled innocent customers by falsely claiming “server down” issues and collected additional biometric details
- Promised free internet services in villages and created SIM cards in the names of illiterate persons
Police said the activated SIM cards were immediately converted into e-SIMs and transferred to cyber crime gangs operating abroad.
Ghost SIMs Used for Sextortion and Digital Arrest Frauds
According to Hyderabad City Police, the accused allegedly used Indian mobile numbers to create:
- WhatsApp accounts
- Telegram accounts
Police said these numbers were then used in cyber crimes including:
- Sextortion scams
- Digital arrest frauds
Officials stated that once the target was achieved, the agents allegedly shut down their shops and absconded.
Hyderabad Police to Meet Telecom Companies
To curb the growing threat, Hyderabad City Police announced that they would soon hold meetings with senior officials of telecom companies.
Police said they would request:
- Stricter KYC verification processes
- Blacklisting of agents violating rules across all telecom networks
The police also said they would approach the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) regarding the issue.
Public Advised Not to Share Aadhaar or Biometrics
Hyderabad City Police advised citizens not to share Aadhaar or biometric details with anyone.
People were asked to verify the number of SIM cards registered in their names through the official portal:
Cyber Fraud Victims Asked to Report Immediately
Police appealed to victims of cyber fraud to report incidents immediately during the “Golden Hour.”
Citizens can:
- Call cyber helpline number: 1930
- File complaints online through National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal
Hyderabad City Police stated that they remain committed to protecting the public from cyber fraud.
Hyderabad City Police arrested 66 accused persons and seized 544 SIM cards during “Operation Octopus 3.0” targeting a ghost SIM network allegedly linked to 76 cyber crimes worth Rs. 101.87 crore. Police said the SIM cards were converted into e-SIMs and supplied to foreign cyber gangs for sextortion and digital arrest frauds. Further action and investigation are ongoing.
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