What TRAI’s crackdown 21 lakh SIMs means for Odisha’s war on cyber fraud networks

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) blocked more than 21 lakh mobile numbers and blacklisted nearly 1 lakh spam and fraud entities across the country over the past year.

While this nationwide action is not linked to any one state, it has sharpened focus on Odisha, where cybercrime complaints have surged, and police investigations repeatedly trace scams to pre-activated SIM cards and mule bank accounts.

A close analysis of government data and the scale of TRAI’s intervention shows how SIM disconnections can work as a direct disruption tool against organised cyber fraud, a vulnerability Odisha investigators have been grappling with.

National Crackdown Intersects With Odisha’s Vulnerabilities

TRAI’s campaign was triggered by public reporting through official channels that allow telecom companies to verify suspicious numbers and disconnect them permanently. The regulator has urged citizens to report spam on official apps instead of merely blocking numbers on personal devices.

Odisha police maintain that the same mechanism could have a significant local impact, as many rackets operating in the state are built around illegally issued SIMs. Notably, the ability to trace and disconnect numbers centrally can help neutralise networks faster than case-level action alone, provided users submit formal reports.

Reported Cybercrime Has Spiked In Odisha

Data presented to the Odisha Legislative Assembly shows a rapid rise in cyber offences. Reported cases increased from 1,983 in 2022 to 2,348 in 2023, a growth of 18.4 percent. 

Longer-term figures show an escalation from just 6,053 cases in 2021 to more than 53,000 in 2024. By the end of June 2025, the number of cases had already surpassed 28,000.

Financial fraud complaints alone jumped from 18,081 in 2023 to 43,740 in 2024, an increase of more than 140 percent. Money lost to scams crossed Rs 415.90 crore in 2024, a rise of over 400 percent in a single year.

SIM Cards And Mule Accounts In Bhubaneswar

Local police units have repeatedly uncovered the same fraud structures. Pre-activated SIM cards are being issued using duplicate identity documents at small retailers and mobile kiosks in the state capital.

These SIMs are later sold to cybercrime networks, shielding the real operators. At the same time, ordinary citizens are recruited to open bank accounts or lend existing accounts, which are then used as conduits to move stolen funds.

Recent crackdowns illustrate how these tools enable large-value scams. The Crime Branch arrested four individuals, including engineering and pharmacy graduates, in cases totalling more than Rs 1.70 crore. One victim was duped of over Rs 1.45 crore through a fake online trading scheme that relied on multiple mule accounts to transfer funds.

ALSO READ: Sambalpur Police Busts Cybercrime Racket, 35 Mule Accounts Seized

Odisha Police Plan Tighter Crackdowns

State authorities have indicated they will intensify raids on SIM vendors who violate documentation norms and expand tracing of bank accounts being used for laundering fraud proceeds.

Earlier reports cite police officials who say coordination with TRAI and telecom operators will be crucial, as disconnection at the network level can eliminate repeat sources of fraud faster than case-by-case arrest.

Investigators are also increasing surveillance of devices with tampered IMEI numbers and are seeking faster compliance from service providers on deactivation requests linked to cybercrime cases.

Clear Advisory For Citizens

Meanwhile, citizens are being advised to file complaints against suspicious numbers through TRAI’s DND and Sanchar Saathi systems rather than relying on personal blocking. Users are being asked not to share SIM cards registered in their names and not to provide bank accounts to unknown individuals under any circumstances.

Odisha’s steep rise in cybercrime and high financial losses shows how these networks operate locally, prompting state police to pursue tighter coordination with telecom regulators to disrupt fraud systems at their source.