New Delhi, 24 September (H.S.): The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit has busted a gang allegedly involved in defrauding people in the United States in the name of providing technical support. Police raided a fake international call centre operating from a rented premises in Pitampura and arrested 11 accused, including two women. The police recovered Rs 41 lakh in cash, 29 laptops, 25 mobile phones, eight routers and a car from their possession. According to the police, the gang allegedly defrauded victims based overseas of approximately Rs 100 crore.

The IFSO received information on September 21 about an illegal international call centre operating in the Pitampura area. A police team led by ACP Premchand Khanduri, along with Inspector Dataram and other personnel, raided the third and fourth floors of House No. 249 in Shivaji Market, Pitampura village. Eleven people were found operating the call centre. During questioning, it emerged that the suspects allegedly posed as technical support representatives and called people in the United States.

The investigation revealed that the gang’s backend network allegedly first infected the computers of US citizens with malware. A pop-up would then appear on the victims’ screens, instructing them to call a toll-free number for technical assistance. When victims called the number, their calls were routed to agents operating from the Pitampura call centre.

Following a predetermined script, the agents allegedly told victims that their computers had been infected with a virus and that their bank accounts were also at risk. They then persuaded the victims to install AnyViewer, thereby gaining remote access to their computers. The calls were subsequently transferred to individuals posing as bank officials.

The fake bank officials, using US-based phone numbers, allegedly contacted victims and instructed them to purchase gift cards from iTunes, Sephora, Target and Google Pay. In some cases, victims were also allegedly asked to transfer money through Bitcoin. Details of the gift cards were subsequently shared in a WhatsApp group operated by the gang, where the cards were allegedly redeemed.

According to the police, fake documents purportedly issued by the FBI and other US agencies were also sent to some victims to intimidate them. Call centre employees allegedly used fictitious names such as Williams, Ryan, Sophie, Jenny and Alex while communicating with victims.

An FIR has been registered at the Special Cell police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. According to the police, several other individuals allegedly linked to the gang, both in India and abroad, have been identified, and efforts are underway to apprehend them.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar