Gurugram police break fake call centre; 12 accused are being detained.
In a significant breakthrough, the Gurugram police successfully dismantled a fraudulent call centre operating clandestinely from a rented apartment in Sushant Lok Phase 3. The operation carried out on Thursday night, resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects, including five women. The call centre, posing as a technical support provider, targeted foreign nationals primarily from the United States, Canada, and Australia, duping them with substantial amounts of money. The scam had cover it.
This article delves into the details of the investigation, the modus operandi of the criminals, and the measures taken by the police to bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to investigators, the fraudulent call centre operated under the guise of a legitimate technical support provider for prominent technology companies.
The suspects assumed false identities as employees of these companies to gain the trust of their unsuspecting victims. Their primary targets were residents of the United States, Canada, and Australia, who often sought technical assistance for their desktops and laptops.
The call centre had been operating for six months, during which it managed to deceive numerous foreign nationals and amass considerable sums of money. The suspects conducted their operations smoothly, avoiding detection until a critical tip-off prompted the Gurugram police to take action.
To execute their elaborate scam, the suspects employed various tactics to lure victims and gain remote access to their systems. They skillfully manipulated technological tools such as virtual toll-free numbers and remote access applications like AnyDesk to achieve their objectives.
The impersonation of technical experts was a key component of their strategy. The suspects introduced themselves as highly knowledgeable professionals, instilling confidence in their victims and leading them to believe that their technical issues would be resolved efficiently.
Once they had gained their victims’ trust, the criminals exploited remote access applications, enabling them to take control of the victims’ desktops and laptops. With this level of access, they could navigate through sensitive data, all while deceiving their victims into believing they were providing genuine technical assistance.
The fraudulent call centre’s ultimate goal was to extract money from their victims, and they did so by charging exorbitant fees for their supposed technical services. Victims were coerced into paying anywhere between $100 and $5,000 for assistance, with the criminals promising resolution to their technical problems.
Through virtual toll-free numbers, the suspects were able to facilitate seamless financial transactions. These toll-free numbers gave the appearance of legitimate support services, creating an air of authenticity around the operation. Victims, unaware of the deceitful nature of the call centre, readily complied with the instructions provided by the suspects, resulting in the unlawful transfer of funds.
The breakthrough in the investigation came when the Gurugram police received a crucial tip-off. Acting swiftly on this information, a specialised team was assembled under the guidance of ACP Vipin Ahalawat and SHO Jasvir Singh from the Cyber Crime police station. Armed with the necessary intel, the team executed a well-coordinated raid on the fake call centre.
During the raid, the police managed to apprehend all 12 suspects, including the call centre’s owners, Harshit Kashyap, Varun Dua, and Manmeet Singh. Additionally, the authorities seized 10 laptops, three mobile phones, two modems, and a sum of ₹56,000 in cash, all of which were integral to the operation.
The arrested suspects are now facing charges under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act. These charges carry significant penalties and aim to ensure that those responsible for perpetrating the scam are held accountable for their actions.
The victims of this fraudulent call centre scam, mostly residing in the United States, Canada, and Australia, are likely to have experienced considerable financial losses and emotional distress. The deceitful practices of the suspects have not only resulted in monetary harm but also compromised the privacy and security of the victims’ sensitive data.
The successful busting of this fake call centre marks a significant achievement for the Gurugram police in their ongoing efforts to combat cybercrime. In the last two months alone, they have uncovered six illegal call centres across the city, resulting in the arrest of at least 53 suspects involved in duping foreign nationals.
The fraudulent call centre operating from Gurugram serves as a stark reminder of the need for constant vigilance against cybercrime. The criminals’ exploitation of technology to deceive innocent victims highlights the importance of robust security measures and heightened awareness among the public.
Through their timely intervention and skilled investigation, the Gurugram police have sent a strong message that such criminal activities will not be tolerated, and they will continue to strive to protect the rights and interests of all citizens.
Additionally, this incident underscores the significance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime, as criminals often transcend geographical boundaries to perpetrate such scams. With ongoing efforts and a united front against cyber fraud, the hope is that incidents like this will become increasingly rare and victims will find justice and support in the face of such deception.
