Failed IAS aspirant involved in spoofing calls, impersonating IPS and IFS officers arrested

Accused Zoya Khan involved in making spoofing calls using CUG (Closed User Group) numbers of high-ranking officials to apply pressure, has been arrested in a joint operation by Sector-142 Police Station and the Cybercrime Team (CDT). The joint operation was carried out by officers of Gautam Buddh Nagar Police. Zoya Khan was brought under police custody for the recovery of the SIM card used in the crime and further evidence collection.

At Sector-142, the case was registered under section 108 BNS for attempting to pressurize the complainant by making spoofing calls from police officers’ CUG numbers, 351(3) BNS and 66D IT Act. During the investigation, based on CDRs (Call Detail Records) and other evidence from the complainant’s phone, Zoya Khan and Gaurav Agarwal, resident of Delhi, were identified as suspects. She is currently under judicial custody.

Spoofing calls manipulate the caller ID to make it seem like the call is coming from a trusted source, tricking the recipient into believing they are speaking with the legitimate owner of the displayed number, when it is actually a scammer.

In this case, Zoya Khan used a Dubai-based server to make spoofing calls. During interrogation, Zoya revealed that her co-accused, Gaurav Agarwal, was involved in the death of Sahil Sabberwal, who died after falling from a 7th-floor apartment in Noida. A case under Section 108 BNS was filed in this regard.

Zoya downloaded the 'PortSip' app from the internet and used it to spoof calls from the CUG number of the SHO of Sector-142. Posing as a high-ranking police official, she made threatening calls to officers and the deceased's family members, demanding strict action against the victim's family and warning them of legal consequences if they defended the accused.

Zoya also manipulated her voice using apps to impersonate male officers. She took Rs. 8,000 from Minakshi under the pretext of surveillance work and used the money to purchase cryptocurrency, which she used to pay for the spoofing software. Gaurav Agarwal was her accomplice in this plot.

Zoya Khan has a history of impersonating government officials to exert influence. She previously prepared for the UPSC exams but, after failing, started pretending to be an IAS/IPS/IFS officer to establish her status in society.