Maharashtra Police Busts Fake International Call Centre, Arrests 116 People

Strategic Insights -

The city police in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar conducted a 24-hour operation, starting late Monday night, and busted a fake international call centre allegedly defrauding US citizens by offering PayPal loans and tax settlements. The police arrested 116 people and seized dozens of laptops, mobile phones, and digital communication devices. The centre had been running secretly for nearly a year, targeting American citizens through internet-based calls and messages.

Key Takeaways:

  • The fake international call centre was operating in a three-storey building in the Chikalthana MIDC area, where employees were paid between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 per month, with food and accommodation provided.
  • Each worker had an individual cabin with a laptop, and strict movement restrictions were imposed, allowing them to only travel between their accommodation and the call centre premises.
  • The centre was accused of defrauding US citizens by sending pop-ups or messages related to PayPal loans, and victims were told they had unpaid taxes and would be issued a warrant unless they paid immediately.
  • The accused directed victims to purchase gift cards in US dollars and would obtain the redeem codes over the phone to encash the value.
  • Investigators found a 56-page agreement suggesting that the call centre was being run under the pretext of IT and software operations.
  • The police have sought custody of six accused, and the court has remanded them in nine-day police custody.
  • The accused who have been remanded in police custody are all from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and include Bhavesh Choudhari, Bhavik Patel, Satish Lade, Valay Vyas, Ajay Thakur, and Manovardham Chaudhri.

Statistics:

  • 116 people were arrested in connection with the fake international call centre operation.
  • Dozens of laptops, mobile phones, and digital communication devices were seized by the police during the raid.
  • The centre had been operating secretly for nearly a year.
  • The accused directed victims to purchase gift cards in US dollars.
  • The police have sought custody of six accused, and the court has remanded them in nine-day police custody.

Sources:

  • Times of India: "Maharashtra Police Busts Fake International Call Centre, Arrests 116 People"
  • Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
  • Maharashtra Police
  • Enforcement Directorate (ED)
  • Indian Telegraph Act
  • Information Technology (IT) Act