Daman Police Bust High-Tech Cyber Fraud Racket 

Daman, Union Territory – In a startling revelation that reads more like a plot from a cyber-thriller, Daman Police have busted a sophisticated cyber fraud operation that used corporate-grade telecom infrastructure to run a nationwide fake loan scam, extorting victims with relentless calls, threats, and digital deception.

The racket, which had its tentacles spread across Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh, was unearthed following a complaint filed on June 16, 2025, by a Daman resident who fell victim to a shady loan app named “ANN Cashmitra.” What followed was a tale of forged documents, VPNs, server farms, fake companies, and, shockingly, the involvement of a Vodafone employee.

The victim had applied for a ₹36,000 loan through the mobile app. Instead, he received ₹22,000 — and a series of threatening calls and WhatsApp messages demanding repayment. Harassed and pressured, the man ended up paying ₹53,000 via UPI to multiple accounts, yet the extortion continued.

What seemed like a small-time fraud turned out to be the tip of a massive cybercrime iceberg.

“This wasn’t your usual scam. These criminals were operating like a corporate call centre with servers, SIP trunk connections, and forged company credentials,” said Superintendent of Police Ketan Bansal, IPS, who led the investigation.

Telecom Tech Turned Crime Tool

The breakthrough came when police traced the phone numbers used for the threats to Vodafone SIP/PRI lines — typically used by legitimate businesses for handling large volumes of calls.

Shockingly, the KYC for these connections was done in Mumbai using fake documents, while the server itself was hosted at Pi Data Centre in Andhra Pradesh. Investigations revealed the calls were generated through ASTERISK, an open-source platform that enabled tens of thousands of daily automated calls.

“This was telecom fraud at a whole new level,” said one investigator. “We’re not talking about a SIM card here — we’re talking about 500 simultaneous sessions and 1,500 direct numbers all used for crime.”

Arrests and Modus Operandi

The police arrested four individuals: Love Gupta (30, Mumbai) – The alleged mastermind. Created shell companies, paid telecom bills, and operated under the alias “Tushar.”, Siddhesh Salve (25, Mumbai) – Registered the fake company used to obtain telecom infrastructure, Vikash Sharma (25, Jaipur) – Managed server and telecom payments via eMitra centres, and Abhijit Dey (28, Pune) – Vodafone employee, accused of facilitating KYC approval and installation of the SIP line despite clear procedural violations.

“This is not just negligence — it’s complicity,” said a senior officer about Dey’s role.

The operation had a truly pan-India footprint, with funds routed through Rajasthan, calls generated in Andhra Pradesh, and documents forged in Mumbai.

VPNs, Foreign Servers, and Digital Disguises

To evade detection, fraudsters used VPNs to mask IP addresses and routed calls through foreign servers, giving themselves near-total anonymity. It was this layered digital camouflage that made it one of the most complex cybercrime setups uncovered in recent times.

Police Appeal and Warning

Police seized mobile phones, a server, laptops, and have frozen 15 bank accounts linked to the operation. Meanwhile, Daman Police are urging the public to steer clear of unauthorized loan apps.

“If an app is offering fast loans but demanding quick repayments with threats — it’s a fraud. Report it immediately,” said SP Bansal.

Citizens are advised to call 1930 (National Cybercrime Helpline) or report at the nearest police station if they receive suspicious calls.