KATHMANDU: With the advancement of science and information technology, the number of cases of cybercrimes has grown immensely, hitting hard the least developed countries like Nepal.
Criminals engaged in cybercrime outsmart the technology applied by police to control criminal activities.
Call bypass is one of the crimes, which has incurred a loss of Rs 12 billion in the last six years. Police have arrested 66 people, including 36 foreigners on the charge of bypassing calls. A total of 24,000 SIM cards were used to rob the country.
On January 24, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police raided a house based at Samakhusi Chowk and arrested two people on the charge of operating VOIP to bypass calls.
Police also seized a cache of equipment used for operating VOIP. This is the latest example of the cybercrime brought to the fore. According to SP Sudeep Giri, spokesperson of CIB, police raided four different places and rounded up seven people in the current fiscal, seeking a fine of over Rs 220 million, equivalent to the revenue loss incurred by the call bypass.
Police have raided 107 places in the last 9 years since its inception. Police arrested a total of 166 people including 36 foreigners during the period. Almost 24,000 SIM cards were seized.
CIB had launched an operation called Voice Fox since August 31, 2010, in a bid to curb the crime.
Property loss caused by call bypass in 8 years
Fiscal Year Property claimed
2067/68 Rs 5 billion 400 million 377 thousand, 9 hundred 25
2068/69 Rs 2 billion 793 million 469 thousand, 2 hundred 76
2069/70 Rs 295 million 917 thousand and 4 hundred 35
2070/71 Rs 2 billion 136 million, 348 thousand 7 hundred 71
2071/72 Rs 715 million 638 thousand 4 hundred 32
2072/73 Rs 502 million 525 thousand
2073/74 Rs 234 million 231 thousand 4 hundred 80
2074/75 Rs 185 million 361 thousand 8 hundred 10
2075/76 Rs 221 million 149 thousand 2 hundred 19
A total of property loss incurred by call bypass is Rs 12 billion 125 million 9 thousand 3 hundred 83
(Source: CBI, Nepal Police)
What is VOIP?
VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. According to former DIG Hemanta Malla, only authorized telecommunication service provider companies can operate VOIP by paying tax.
Malla says, “VOIP is a methodology and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet.”
Illegally installed VOIP helps deliver an international incoming call to the concerned receivers via internal calls by using different SIM cards and the internet.
Service provider companies do not get the revenue through the international incoming calls when they are bypassed. It will directly impact the revenue of service provider companies as well as the state. This type of crime is still taking place in the country, according to SP Giri.
How does VOIP operate?
Giri says, “To operate VOIP illegally, VOIP gateway (Sim box), internet, SIM card, recharge card, power box, and international call carriers are required.
The internal incoming call is received through the IP address of VOIP gateway (SIM box) via the Internet and international call carriers.
The international call is mixed with internal calls of the SIM box and delivered through the network of service provider companies.
The SIM cards will help bypass international calls into local calls. The call bypass racketeers are operating their businesses from various locations, said Giri.
International connection with VOIP racket
Police said that internationally organized racketeers are active in call bypass by using Nepali migrant youths. Mostly Bangladeshi and Indian nationals are found to be involved in such call bypass racketeering.
According to former DIG Malla, these racketeers have a connection with international call carriers and encourage the Nepali people from lower class to operate VOIP with the lure of high benefits.
It is found that they even send necessary equipment of VOIP through courier and teach them to fix the device through Viber and WhatsApp. The system is operated by installing Team Viewer.
Places where VOIP are operated illegally?
The VIOP is found to have been operated in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Hetauda, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, and Jhapa, of late. Such racketeering is operated from the Indian border within the reach of Nepali mobile network, claims police.
Punishment and fine
Those found guilty in the call bypass are sentenced to five years in jail along with a fine equivalent to the property damaged in line with Section 47 (5) of Telecommunication Act, 1996.
Controlling call bypassing
Call bypass racketeering has not stopped despite a crackdown launched by Nepal Police on the crime.
Former DIP Malla suggests that service providing companies should be careful while distributing SIM cards. They should update the record system and fix the limit on how many SIM cards can an individual take. An applicant should be present while applying for a SIM card. Similarly, they also should verify SIM card users, introduce digitalized fingerprint system and reduce the rate of international incoming calls to curb call bypass.
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