Gujarat Police bust fake loan call centre targeting US citizens in Naroda
Synopsis
A rented flat in Ahmedabad's Naroda area was allegedly running a full-scale fraud operation targeting Americans — fake loan approvals, Social Security number harvesting, gift card payments, and a WhatsApp-based data supply chain. One man is in custody; his alleged partner who converted the proceeds remains on the run.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Police raided an alleged illegal call centre in Naroda on Wednesday, 29 July .
Arrested accused Mahesh Sharoff, 38 , allegedly impersonated officials of 'Cash Advance America' to defraud US citizens .
Victims were reportedly asked for their Social Security numbers and tricked into paying bogus loan insurance fees via gift cards .
A second accused, Martin of Gandhinagar , who allegedly supplied victim data and converted gift card proceeds, remains absconding .
Digital devices worth ₹56,000 were seized; FIR filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and IT Act Section 66D .
Ahmedabad Police on Wednesday dismantled an alleged illegal call centre operating out of a rented flat in the Naroda area of Ahmedabad, arresting one suspect who investigators say impersonated a loan company official to defraud US citizens of gift card payments and Social Security numbers. A second accused remains at large.
How the Scam Operated
According to police, the arrested accused, Mahesh Sharoff, 38, posed as a representative of a company called 'Cash Advance America' using a laptop, mobile phones equipped with eSIMs, and messaging applications. Victims were allegedly promised loan approvals, then asked to furnish their Social Security numbers and pay a bogus loan insurance fee in the form of gift cards before the loan could supposedly be processed.
Investigators say lead data on American citizens was supplied to Sharoff by a second accused, identified only as Martin, a resident of Gandhinagar, via WhatsApp. Martin allegedly converted the gift card proceeds into Indian currency, with Sharoff reportedly receiving 65 per cent of the proceeds in cash.
The Raid and Arrest
The operation was triggered by a tip-off received during a routine patrol by Police Sub-Inspector V.R. Chaudhary and his team. Acting on information that a man named Mahesh was running the call centre from Flat No. 102, Block C/42, Swaminarayan Park, Naroda — near Shelby Hospital — police conducted a raid in the presence of two independent witnesses and arrested Sharoff from the premises.
Seized from the flat were digital devices valued at an estimated ₹56,000, including two Apple iPhones fitted with eSIMs, a Vivo V23, a Poco smartphone, an ASUS laptop (model A540S), and a GTPL fibre broadband router. The second accused, Martin, remains absconding.
Legal Sections Invoked
Naroda Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under Sections 61(2)(a), 318(4), 319(2), and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, as well as Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, which specifically covers cheating by impersonation using computer resources.
Investigation Status
Authorities are actively working to trace the absconding accused Martin and map the wider alleged fraud network. The case highlights a recurring pattern of India-based call centres exploiting US residents through impersonation scams — this is among several such operations busted by Gujarat Police in recent years. Further details are expected as the probe advances.
Point of View
Because the economics remain attractive: low overhead, high returns, and a data supply chain that operates almost entirely over consumer messaging apps. The fact that lead data was sourced via WhatsApp and proceeds laundered through gift cards underscores how low the barrier to entry is. The absconding accused Martin — the alleged data supplier and money converter — is the more operationally significant figure, and his continued evasion is the real test of this investigation's depth.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Naroda call centre scam about?
An alleged illegal call centre in Ahmedabad's Naroda area targeted US citizens by impersonating officials of a fake company called 'Cash Advance America', convincing victims to share their Social Security numbers and pay loan insurance fees through gift cards. The gift cards were then converted into Indian currency by the accused.
Who has been arrested in the Ahmedabad call centre case?
Police arrested Mahesh Sharoff, 38, who was operating the call centre from a rented flat near Shelby Hospital in Naroda. A second accused, identified as Martin, a resident of Gandhinagar, remains absconding.
What was seized during the raid?
Police seized digital equipment worth an estimated ₹56,000, including two Apple iPhones with eSIMs, a Vivo V23, a Poco smartphone, an ASUS laptop (model A540S), and a GTPL fibre broadband router.
What charges have been filed in the case?
Naroda Police have registered an FIR under Sections 61(2)(a), 318(4), 319(2), and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, which covers cheating by impersonation using computer resources.
How did the accused obtain details of US citizens?
According to investigators, the absconding accused Martin supplied lead data of American citizens to Mahesh Sharoff via WhatsApp, which Sharoff then used to contact and defraud victims.
