The Delhi Police have dismantled an elaborate fake international call centre located in Satbari village, South Delhi, arresting eight suspects, including a woman. The accused allegedly targeted hundreds of foreign nationals, predominantly from the UK, Europe, and North America, utilizing voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) calls, foreign databases, and forged communication tools to operate their scam.
The mastermind, known as Sanu, escaped before the police raid and is actively sought by a special task force. Authorities seized a wealth of digital equipment, including numerous computers, mobile phones, SIM cards, crypto wallets valued at approximately Rs 5 crore (around 5.5 million USDT), and documents related to their fraudulent operations.
The residential building used as the call centre was registered in the name of the mastermind’s brother, Rehan alias Tinny, and has been sealed for further probing.
How the Scam Worked: Modus Operandi
According to police reports, the call centre was contrived to appear as a legitimate international customer support facility. The accused, fluent in English, contacted foreign nationals under the guise of offering technical help, particularly concerning supposed computer viruses or security issues.
They sent malicious links that, when clicked, enabled the scammers to hack victims’ devices and extract sensitive personal and financial data. Following this, the perpetrators exerted pressure on victims through blackmail, threatening to misuse the stolen information unless demanded sums were paid.
Their ability to convincingly impersonate genuine customer service agents and leverage advanced VoIP technology made the scam particularly deceptive and wide-reaching.
Multiple Cyber-Fraud Networks
This bust forms a part of a broader crackdown by Delhi Police targeting cybercrime syndicates operating within Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Punjab. Earlier raids uncovered several cyber fraud rings involved in ‘digital arrest’ scams and fraudulent investment schemes.
These networks recruit financially vulnerable groups such as students and unemployed youth to open mule accounts, creating fake e-commerce fronts to launder illicit funds.
The police action unveiled links to a cryptocurrency trail managed by handlers in Dubai, highlighting the international dimension of these operations. The use of fake police and government agency identities to intimidate victims further complicated the scams, facilitating their widespread impact on foreign nationals.
How to Stay Safe from International Call Centre Scams
To protect yourself from international call centre scams, remain vigilant when receiving unsolicited calls, especially those claiming to be from reputed organisations. Never share personal or financial information over the phone unless you have independently verified the caller’s identity by contacting the organisation through official channels.
Be cautious of high-pressure tactics urging immediate payment or urgent data sharing. Utilize call-blocking features to filter suspicious numbers and report scam calls to authorities promptly. Educate yourself and your community about common red flags such as requests for passwords, links to click, or unusual payment methods like cryptocurrency transfers.
Staying informed and trusting your instincts to hang up on suspicious calls is key to safeguarding against these evolving cyber fraud tactics.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The successful bust of this fake call centre highlights the urgent need for enhanced cyber literacy and robust law enforcement collaboration both domestically and globally. As scammers increasingly exploit technology and human vulnerabilities, education on recognising fraud attempts becomes critical.
The Logical Indian commends the swift police operations but stresses that community vigilance and preventive measures are equally essential in safeguarding digital communication channels.
