An illegal international call centre operating in Delhi's Pitampura was busted on Thursday. Delhi Police said the fake call centre used to target the US citizens through a tech-support scam. 11 persons were arrested after a raid by the police.
US Citizens Scammed Of Rs 100 Cr
According to police, the illegal call centre allegedly cheated victims in the US of around Rs 100 crore through a tech-support scam. They used to intimidate victims by sending forged communications purportedly issued by the FBI and other US federal agencies. The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit raided the call centre operating from the third and fourth floors of a rented premises in Pitampura village, on September 21.
Rs 41 lakh in cash, 29 laptops, 25 mobile phones, eight routers and an SUV from the premises were siezed in the action. A case was registered on September 22 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act at the Special Cell police station, New Delhi.
What Was Modus Operandi?
The syndicate targeted victims in the US through a sophisticated tech-support fraud, police said, adding that Its members allegedly installed malware on victims' computers remotely, triggering pop-ups directing them to a toll-free number for technical assistance.
When victims called the number, their calls were routed to the Pitampura call centre through a soft-phone application. The call centre agents allegedly followed pre-defined scripts and posed as technical support staff, claiming that the victims' computers had been infected or compromised.
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The victims were then allegedly induced to install a software which allows the fraudsters remote access to their computers. They were subsequently told that their bank accounts were also at risk and were transferred to another accused posing as a bank official, police said.
The alleged fake bankers contacted victims using US-based numbers through a voice application and induced them to purchase gift cards or transfer cryptocurrency on the pretext of resolving the technical or banking issue. The gift card details were allegedly shared in online groups with key members of the syndicate and later redeemed or encashed elsewhere.
In some cases, the accused allegedly intimidated victims by sending forged communications purportedly issued by the FBI and other US federal agencies to make the scam appear genuine and compel them to comply with their demands.
(With PTI Inputs)