The local police have urged residents to be careful while purchasing SIM cards from roadside vendors, flagging suspicions the makeshift sellers are misusing biometric authentication mechanism to issue multiple cards in the name of unsuspecting customers.In a video message shared on its social media accounts, police said residents should remain vigilant, especially during festive seasons and when new tariff plans are marketed on streets.According to the police, the vendors lure customers with promise of quick and easy new connections with attractive deals.Divulging details about their modus operandi, police said when customers provide Aadhaar details and submit to the mandatory fingerprint (biometric) scan, the sellers misguide them into thinking the scan was incomplete or faced a “technical glitch”.The sellers then convince the unsuspecting for biometric authentication a second, or sometimes third, time. As the customers do so, the vendors issue additional SIM cards in their name for every scan.In the social media message, police urged the people to approach them if they fall prey to such scams. Police said timely reporting can help trace and block the fraudulent SIM cards before they are misused.According to the police, the illegally issued SIM cards are sold to be used for cybercrimes, including phishing calls, investment frauds, mule accounts for money laundering and organised scams running into crores.A senior Cyber Cell official said, “These vendors are not following KYC norms and exploiting the biometric system. Once the extra SIM cards are activated, the original customer may face unexpected issues like unwanted telemarketing calls, identity theft or police notices if the number is used in a crime.”Officials said SIM cards issued through such means have already been linked to several cybercrime cases.The police have appealed to the public to spread awareness about the fraud on social media platforms and in within their families and neighbourhoods.In recent months, Punjab Police have busted several modules involved in the supply of fake or duplicate SIM cards that were being routed to cyber fraud syndicates. Senior officials said they have blocked thousands of suspicious numbers after crackdowns on such operations.