Investigation uncovers international SIM‑box fraud linked to Bihar suspect

Bihar police have uncovered an international SIM‑box fraud operation allegedly run by 21‑year‑old Harshit Kumar Mishra of Gauspur village in Supaul district. According to investigators, Mishra’s three‑storey house was equipped with a SIM‑box system that enabled the mass transmission of calls and messages to destinations across the globe.

Authorities say Mishra traveled to Thailand and Vietnam to acquire training and equipment, and maintained communication channels with partners in China and Nepal. The scheme generated substantial revenue, prompting a comprehensive probe into the suspect’s assets, including property, cryptocurrency holdings and foreign investments.

The Economic Offences Unit, in coordination with the Telecom Department, executed a thorough search of Mishra’s residence. The operation yielded eight SIM‑box devices, over 1,300 SIM cards, biometric scanners, cash‑counting machines and other paraphernalia linked to the fraud network.

The case attracted the attention of central agencies such as the CBI and the Intelligence Bureau, which have joined the investigation.

Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar emphasized that the rapid accumulation of wealth by Mishra could not have gone unnoticed by family members and locals, raising questions about community awareness. He called for heightened public vigilance and prompt reporting of any suspicious telecom activities to prevent the spread of similar cyber‑crime networks.