Did Delhi Police Uncover a Fake Call Centre Targeting US Citizens?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Delhi Police's Cyber Cell dismantled a fraudulent call centre.
- Seven suspects have been arrested for their involvement.
- The operation targeted US citizens impersonating Apple support.
- Cryptocurrency was used for illicit financial transactions.
- Ongoing investigations aim to uncover further accomplices.
New Delhi, Dec 18 (NationPress) - The Cyber Cell of the Crime Branch, Delhi Police, has successfully dismantled an illicit international call centre based in Gujranwala Town, North Delhi, which was masquerading as Apple Technical Support to swindle US citizens, officials reported on Thursday.
Seven principal operatives have been apprehended in connection with this operation, which involved illegally extracting funds via cryptocurrency transactions.
According to Delhi Police, the clandestine call centre had been functional for the last four months from a lavishly furnished apartment located in a residential complex in Model Town. The suspects targeted American nationals by posing as Apple support representatives, manipulating their trust to gain unauthorized access to personal devices.
During a raid, the Crime Branch confiscated seven high-end laptops, 16 mobile phones, VoIP and networking gear, along with documents containing sensitive banking information of US citizens.
The seized devices were equipped with MICRO SIP software, enabling the suspects to receive calls from victims in the United States seeking Apple technical support.
Authorities revealed that the method employed involved several layers. Tele-callers initially convinced victims to install remote access applications on their devices under the guise of troubleshooting technical problems.
Once access was granted, personal and financial data were compromised. Subsequently, another group of callers impersonated bank representatives, convincing victims to purchase Bitcoin from kiosks across the US.
Victims were then coerced into sharing Bitcoin wallet QR codes or private keys, allowing the criminals to transfer the cryptocurrency into their own wallets.
The arrested individuals include Aman Singh and Janpreet Singh, who operated as supervisors managing Bitcoin wallets, alongside five tele-callers executing the scam. Most of those arrested are in their early to mid-twenties, with educational backgrounds ranging from middle school to MBA.
Numerous US citizens' contact details, banking information, and cryptocurrency wallet data were retrieved from the confiscated devices, underscoring the magnitude of the fraud.
Authorities suspect that the proceeds of the crime were laundered entirely through Bitcoin to evade detection.
"Further investigations are ongoing to identify additional accomplices, financial trails, and international connections," stated DCP Aditya Gautam.