A 30-year-old woman from Nagaland has been arrested in Gurugram for allegedly helping China-based cyber fraudsters run a virtual SIM box from a rented flat, police said on February 16.
The accused, identified as Kung Panmae, is a native of Dimapur and was staying in Sector 28, Gurugram. She was arrested during a joint operation by Gurugram Police and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Police officials said the East Cyber Police Station had received specific information on February 10 about a couple allegedly operating an illegal telephone exchange from a rented apartment in Sector 28. Acting on the tip-off, a team led by ACP Priyanshu Dewan conducted a raid at the premises.
During the search, officers seized seven mobile phones — including three smartphones, one basic keypad phone and three damaged handsets — along with a WiFi modem, three SIM cards and a broken laptop. Three of the phones were reportedly found making automated calls to Indian numbers through an application identified as VDMS Apk App.
Initial investigation suggests that the woman and her husband had set up the virtual SIM box system on behalf of cyber fraudsters based in China. The setup allegedly converted international Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) calls into local calls, helping fraudsters contact Indian victims without drawing suspicion.
According to police, the network was used for several types of cyber fraud, including so-called “digital arrest” scams, online gaming fraud and fake investment schemes. The woman’s role was reportedly limited to keeping the devices powered and connected to the internet to ensure smooth functioning, while her husband allegedly received commission for arranging and maintaining the system.
Officials said such illegal VOIP routing setups are technically advanced and can pose serious risks, including potential threats to national security, as they allow covert communication channels to operate undetected.