Police data show nearly two lakh SIM cards and IMEI numbers have been deactivated since 2023 as authorities target supply chains feeding cyber fraud networks in Alwar’s Mewat region.
Police in Alwar have blocked nearly two lakh SIM cards and IMEI numbers in three years as part of a crackdown on organised cyber fraud networks.
Police in Rajasthan’s Alwar district have blocked nearly two lakh SIM cards and IMEI numbers over the past three years as part of efforts to curb cyber fraud operations in the Mewat region. The action follows repeated cases of online fraud traced to the district, which has drawn police teams from across the country seeking arrests in scam cases.
Between January 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026, alone, 5,034 IMEI numbers were blocked and 82,769 SIM cards deactivated. Since 2023, a total of 1,90,051 SIM cards and IMEI numbers have been shut down, according to district police data.
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The move is part of a coordinated response involving central agencies and police from Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, after Alwar and neighbouring Bharatpur became known as hubs for organised cyber fraud.
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Police said SIM cards were being brought into the Mewat region with the help of truck drivers from distant states, including West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Karnataka. These SIMs were allegedly supplied to cyber fraud operators operating in the area.
Once identified, the numbers used in fraud calls are immediately deactivated, and associated mobile phones are blocked through their IMEI numbers. Officials said complaints received on the national cyber helpline number 1930 are acted upon without delay.
Alwar Superintendent of Police Sudhir Chaudhary said the district had developed a reputation for online fraud, prompting intensified surveillance and coordination with other states. Police teams from across India frequently visit Alwar to arrest suspects in fraud cases and are handed over accused persons during joint operations.
According to police, blocking SIM cards and IMEI numbers is aimed at disrupting the operational chain of fraud networks. Authorities maintain that such measures have contributed to a reduction in incidents.
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