A vast network of fraudsters is causing huge losses to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). These people are making money after procuring ISD SIMs on fake identities, later disposing them after utilising their service up to several thousand rupees.
A case in point recently came to light when Hazratganj police arrested a youth Shahid Iqbal, who managed to get BSNL ISD SIMs on fake identities. Hazratganj senior sub inspector (SSI) KK Tripathi said he had confessed that he had procured about six such SIMs and sold it to different persons in Kanpur. These persons used ISD services on these SIMs before discarding them.
The SSI said, “We are probing the network which made lakhs of rupees by fraudulently utilising ISD services and causing huge losses to the corporation.”
The arrested youth has been sent to jail on charges of fraud. He would be taken on remand for interrogation, he added. Tripathi said the case came to light when BSNL’s finance section, while probing a case, found a SIM, which had unpaid dues of Rs 85,000, issued on fake identity. The identity proof bore the name of a Gonda resident Vinay Singh but with someone else’s photograph. He said most calls through the fake SIM was made to Gulf countries.
BSNL DGM (Finance) Panchami Lal also lodged an FIR against a franchisee, which verifies the identity of SIM cardholders, about ten days ago. But later it was found during investigation that the SIM card was issued before the franchise agency was handed over the contract of verification. The SIM was issued when verification work was done by another agency. Lal said, “Yes, its true. The case has come to our knowledge and we have registered an FIR. Presently, we have only one case of fraud in out knowledge.” However, he did not rule out there could be more such cases. He said further investigation would be done after getting more details about from police in this connection.
{{/usCountry}}BSNL DGM (Finance) Panchami Lal also lodged an FIR against a franchisee, which verifies the identity of SIM cardholders, about ten days ago. But later it was found during investigation that the SIM card was issued before the franchise agency was handed over the contract of verification. The SIM was issued when verification work was done by another agency. Lal said, “Yes, its true. The case has come to our knowledge and we have registered an FIR. Presently, we have only one case of fraud in out knowledge.” However, he did not rule out there could be more such cases. He said further investigation would be done after getting more details about from police in this connection.
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