A majority of the 55,000-odd SIM cards, found to have been activated with fake identities in Tamil Nadu, were procured from other States. Investigators suspect that these mobile phone numbers could have been used to commit crimes or illegal activities like e-KYC update frauds, online scams and spams.
Acting on a specific input from the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the State police wrote to the respective telecom service providers and got all the 55,892 SIM cards that were procured with fake identities blocked, police sources said on Saturday.
While the Cyber Crime Wing has written to the Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all cities and districts to take suitable action against the retailers who activated the SIM cards on the basis of fake proof of identities, steps are being taken to coordinate with the police of the other States to locate the retailers or agents who supplied the SIM cards activated with forged credentials, police sources said.
