New Delhi: In a major breakthrough against transnational cyber fraud, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted a sophisticated international call centre racket that allegedly duped US citizens of crores of rupees.
The operation, run from upscale areas in Delhi-NCR, targeted vulnerable elderly Americans through impersonation scams.
The kingpin, identified as Chandra Prakash Gupta, was arrested along with seven accomplices after raids at multiple locations in East Delhi and Noida. Authorities recovered laptops, multiple mobile phones, VoIP systems, fake US identity documents, and scripts used to pose as US government officials, tech support agents, or IRS representatives.
The modus operandi involved cold-calling unsuspecting US citizens, often seniors, claiming they owed back taxes, faced deportation, or had compromised bank accounts. Victims were coerced into transferring money via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
Investigators estimate the gang defrauded at least ₹15-20 crore from over 500 victims in the past year alone.
The racket operated in a professional setup with agents trained in American accents and equipped with spoofed US phone numbers. The police traced the operations to a luxury flat in Mayur Vihar and a commercial complex in Sector 62, Noida, where they seized call centre equipment.
Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora praised the Crime Branch team for dismantling the syndicate, noting that such scams have surged post-pandemic. The arrested accused are being interrogated to identify more members and trace the money trail. Further arrests are likely as the probe expands.
This bust highlights the growing menace of cyber-enabled financial fraud originating from India, prompting calls for stronger international cooperation to curb such rackets.